Valediction Number 26: Puss in Boots

Brian Alderson is presenting his collection of children’s books to Seven Stories and Newcastle University. Amongst them, is this special edition of Puss in Boots.

Puss in Boots was first published in French as one of the collection of Perault’s so-called fairy stories (more likely folk-tales) in 1696, which he claimed to have collected from his son’s nurse. The translation by Robert Samber was not published in English until 1722 [?] and the text follows very popular English translations, attributed by John Newbery to a certain G. M Gent (probably Samber).

Some uncertainty concerns the illustrator whom Dr Gote Klingberg names as Kate Greenaway in his study of Swedish translations of English picture books, Denna Lilla Gris Gar Till Torget, Rabén & Sjőgren 1987. Klingberg notes the drawings as being mentioned by Spielmann and Layard but only Klingberg names the Edinburgh publisher. Incidentally, Greenaway’s father was also an illustrator and may have influenced the commission. Dr Klingberg lists 9 numbers attributed to Greenaway, mostly from French sources, before Gall & Inglis moved from Edinburgh to London.

There is a surprising parallel in the trick that the cat plays on the Ogre. His capture by persuading him to grow from a lion to a mouse is paralleled by Wagner in the second act of his opera Rheingold where Wotan and Loki play a similar trick on Alberich in order to get the stolen ring, getting him to change into a giant snake and then a little toad.

Brian Alderson is a long-time and much-valued contributor to Books for Keeps, founder of the Children’s Books History Society and a former Children’s Books Editor for The Times. His most recent book The 100 Best Children’s Books is published by Galileo Publishing, 978-1903385982, £14.99 hbk.

Biblio

[Charles Perault?] Puss in Boots. Edinburgh: Gall and Inglis. ND probably 1870. 245 x 185. [16 pp including covers].[1] front cover as title. [2] unsigned four colour frontispiece attrib. Kate Greenaway, some misplaced. [3-4] Text? Probably from Robert Samber [5] blank [6-7] two full colour illustrations as frontis. [8-9] Blank [10-11] Two full colour illustrations as frontis. [12] blank [13-14] Text as 3-4 [15] Full colour illustration as frontis. [16] Rear cover Gall & Inglis booklist. Price 6d.

Special offer for Books for Keeps readers

Brian Alderson is offering BfK readers copies of Dr Klingberg’s study (free, P&P £3).

To request a copy, email us with your name, address and contact details.