What happens when a cat becomes the subject of da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or takes the starring role in Hamlet or Lawrence of Arabia?

Susan Herbert’s feline interpretations of famous images from Western culturehave charmed and amused readers for decades. Cats Galore brings together illustrationsfrom the affectionately envisioned Pre-Raphaelite Cats, Shakespeare Cats, MovieCats, and Opera Cats—as well as other delightful images of cats cast in scenes fromart, theater, and film—into one delightful volume.

Divided into three sections—Cats in Art, Cats on Stage, and Cats in the Movies—this is the ultimate compendium for cat-loving culture buffs and cultured pet ownersalike. Works by Degas and van Gogh retain their distinctive styles in spite of the furryfaces; cats shine in Much Ado About Nothing and The Barber of Seville; and a bushy-tailedJames Dean in Rebel Without a Cause stares at the camera with the iconiccigarette in his mouth.

Susan Herbert studied at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford. After working for English National Opera and the Theatre Royal in London, she specialized in limited-edition prints of theatrical animals and exhibited frequently. She died in September 2014.