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Freelancer to redraw Eliot's cats

The freelance illustrator behind the Gruffalo, the UK’s best selling picture book, has been chosen to revive the feline characters created by TS Eliot over seven decades ago.

Axel Scheffler, a German-born London-based illustrator, will create over a dozen colour illustrations for a new edition of the poet’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

Like the Gruffalo, the anthology of whimsical poems has never gone out of print and has been translated into many languages since it proved an international hit upon its debut.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Scheffler explained the project is a personal one, because Faber & Faber, which published the anthology in 1939, first published his work 20 years ago.

Although his new creations are being kept firmly under wraps, one of his feline illustrations will reportedly bare more than a passing resemblance to Prime Minister Brown.

The final design of the Mystery Cat, Macavity - know for slopping off at times of mayhem, is even more of a must-see given Scheffler was picked in 2006 to design Mr Brown’s Christmas card.

As a result, Scheffler’s drawings will interest more than just children when they are published, with the most attention reserved for Macavity.

Speaking of the Mystery Cat, Eliot wrote, “You’ll be sure to find him resting or a-licking his thumbs,” “Or engaged in doing complicated long-division sums.”

Scheffler, who brought to life “the terrible teeth” and “terrible jaws” of kiddie monster Gruffalo, will see his creations published next year in an updated colour edition of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

Mar 31, 2008
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