Book of the Week: The Owl and the Pussycat  by John Keir Cross

Our book find of the week is a rare children’s fantasy, The Owl and the Pussycat  by John Keir Cross. This is the 1946 first edition published by Peter  Lunn.  In the US the book was published under the title of The Other Side of Green Hills to avoid confusion with Edward Lear’s Owl and the Pussycat.

Five children are spending a Christmas holiday at an old house, Green Hills, in the Scottish countryside.  They discover an alternate universe - the ‘Other Side’ where the Owl and the Pussycat live.  This is very reminiscent of the the world through the wardrobe in the Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis.

The Owl is an elderly violin playing gentleman and his companion, a little girl who is forever about ten years old. They introduce the children to the evil Dr Titus and the Moon People who try to kidnap one of them for sinister purposes with the book becomes increasingly eerie.

The book is beautifully illustrated with drawings by Robin Jacques.

The is the first edition with dust jacket. The dust jacket is discoloured and worn, including about a 5cm tear to the spine hinge.  There is a name written on the endpaper.

Now available in our online shop.

Previous
Previous

Book of the Week: Restless Legs - A German Girl’s Story by Lilo Linke 1935

Next
Next

Online Shop Launched