The Writer's Cats

Like so many writers, Muriel Barbery is a lover of cats. Grey-furred and amber-eyed, Barbery's four Chartreux cats keep her company as she works from her house in the French countryside, entertaining her with their quirks and foibles.

But that's not all. For Kirin, Ocha, Mizu and Petrus are no ordinary felines. These intelligent creatures have taken it upon themselves to guide their owner's writing - flicking aside sections of her manuscript with a disdainful tail, pointing an approving paw at others. And it's time these mischievous literary consultants get the recognition they deserve.

With delicious wit and irony, and delightful illustrations by Maria Guitart, the beloved author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog gives an insight into her writing life - and the paws behind the pen.