Mourka: The Autobiography of a Cat

by Tanaquil Le Clercq, Martha Swope (Photographs)

Mourka, an extraordinary alley cat, is one of famed choreographer George Balanchine's prize pupils. He has learned to do entre-chats, pas de chats, and even a grand jete. When photographer Martha Swope caught Mourka doing one of his spectacular leaps, Life printed the memorable photo and Mourka's reputation was made instantly for millions of Americans. Here, Miss Swope's pictures and Miss Le Clercq's text convey his many exploits and suggest that Mourka may well be the most accomplished feline in the world.

Mourka, a native New Yorker, shares a large apartment on the upper West Side with Mr. and Mrs. Balanchine. He spends his summers in Weston, Connecticut, where he indulges in his favorite hobby, bug-watching, and such favorite foods as asparagus, potatoes, peas, and sour cream.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats

60 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best anniversary gift ever.

As a study in contrasts, I leave you with George Balanchine's cat (pictured above) and my cat (pictured below):

[Leigh Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book is out of print and hard to find, but I found one through Amazon- yay! it's a charming picture book. If you love cats, you'll get a kick out of it. Written by and starring cats of legendary ballerina Tanaquil Le Clercq and George Ballanchine.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about George Balanchine's cat joining the ballet with real (and some charmingly faked) photos. Any cat lover will find this engaging.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I still had a copy of this. Written by dancer Tanaquil Le Clerq (who was married to Balanchine).
Photos by Martha Swope. From point of view of Balanchine's cat.