THE HEARTACHES OF A FRENCH CAT

David R. Godine 1989

Minette is a poor young cat with dreams too big to fit into the tiny apartment she and her sisters share. When she runs into the dashing and wealthy Count Bisquet, it's love at first sight - and a sure recipe for heartbreak. His increasing distance forces her to examine her life and ambitions. What of the love of her sisters, her young child, and the quiet but persistent devotion of the count's lawyer, Lionel? The crisis comes to the fore in a multi layered play in a play in a book, where the count's true feelings are revealed, and Minette must make a difficult decision about her life. Told entirely in pictures, imitating a theatrical play, McClintock's work is a subtle and elegant tale to be enjoyed and savored by readers of all ages.
( Ages 4 and up/all ages )

*NY Times Best Illustrated Book award
*Time Magazine Best Illustrated Book award
*Entertainment Weekly Best Books of the Year list
*Starred reviews Publishers Weekly, Miami Herald Tribune, Minneapolis Herald Tribune

OUT OF PRINT

“THE HEARTACHES OF A FRENCH CAT features a mute cast of felines. Author and illustrator Barbara McClintock places her 19th century tale onstage, where everything is expressed through the dramatic pose and the pregnant paws. Minette is pursued by the rakish Count Bisquet and the worthy Lionel. In the end she spurns them both to write her scandalous memoir, which becomes an overnight success. If there is any justice, so will this comic biography.” — The New York Times Book Review