Mewingham Manor: Observations on a Curious New Species

by Laura Von Stetina

In 1875, Edwina Von Stetina, a young naturalist from London, unexpectedly inherited Mewingham Manor, the isolated country home of her seafaring uncle, Captain Bartholomew Katt. Edwina never met Katt - the black sheep of the family - but she heard many stories about the mysterious estate that he filled with exotic species collected in his travels.

This journal is the remarkable chronicle of Edwina's first year at Mewingham Manor as she discovers the secrets of Katt's lifetime the delightful miniature winged cats called Flittens, and their mischievous tagalongs, the tiny flying Mice.

In the storytelling tradition of Gnomes and Dinotopia, a fantastic new world comes to life through Von Stetina's fanciful depiction of a never-before-seen species.

Genres: Cats

72 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2002

Reviews

[littlemiao · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I lived at Mewingham Manor. The flittens - little butterfly kittens - are absolutely adorable, as are the mischievous little mini-mice. The naturalistic descriptions of these little critters are enchanting and humorous. This book would make the perfect gift for someone who loves kitties and gardening.

The description of the winged mice perfectly matches a certain three-legged kitten that I know: "They are very bright and alert, dart quickly about, nibble at almost anything they come across, stick their noses into things that are simply none of their business, and generally leave a mess in their wake. Yet, despite their silliness and bad behavior, they are the most enchanting creatures I have ever seen!"

This book needs a sequel. The world needs more butterfly kittens napping in flowers.

[Chichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐

Un livre que j'ai emporté de chez mes parents et que j'avais oublié, jusqu'à récemment.

J'ai pris le temps de le relire, de m'émerveiller devant les sublimes illustrations et de me rendre compte que je ne l'avais jamais vraiment lu en entier, bien que je l'ai souvent feuilleté. Et je ne regrette pas, il est adorable et je le garderais le plus longtemps possible auprès de mois.

Je ne lui mets cependant pas 5⭐ parce que j'ai été déçue de voir que la fin pouvait être ouverte sur une suite.. Qui malheureusement est inexistante.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most beautiful book. The illustrations are exquisite and wonderfully detailed. The text is interesting and would appeal to children who likes adventure and cats.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, sweetly illustrated coffee-table art book cum "journal" that brings to mind Brian Froud & Terry Jones's "Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book" and James Gurney's "Dinotopia" series (though "Mewingham" doesn't have the substance either of them does).