Wildcat Spirit

Author: (Russian) Tolstaya / Chen Xunming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Cat Spirit is a highly acclaimed novel by the contemporary Russian female writer Tatyana Tolstaya, published in 2000. It won the Russian Triumph Award and the Book Oscar in 2001 and is one of the most discussed and debated works in the Russian literary scene. This satirical novel profoundly exposes the feline nature of people, especially intellectuals, during the great wave of social transformation. The protagonist, Benedict, is originally a boiler worker but spends his days copying books. Over time, he gradually forgets his feline origins and believes he has become human, a cultured individual. After marrying a wealthy woman (who is also a cat), he remains obsessed with books and thus neglects his wife. The female cat, unable to find happiness in the family, strays and seeks a new mate. The male cat, however, pays no mind to it. The cunning and shrewd father-in-law uses the male cat to stage a coup and seize power, forcing him to frame and execute Nikita, a protector of traditional culture, on trumped-up charges. During the execution by fire, a fierce storm erupts, and the flames engulf most of the city.