'Remarkable' New York Times
'[Simenon is] a bit of a master' Cillian Murphy
An acerbic tale of marital warfare and emotional estrangement, in a brilliant new translation
In the oppressive silence of the sitting room, the woman finally smoothed out the paper and, without putting on her glasses, read the two words her husband had written:
The cat.
Amidst the din of their Parisian neighbourhood, Émile and Marguerite live in total silence. After a hasty marriage in their sixties, their uneasy peace was shattered when Émile's beloved cat mysteriously disappeared and was later found dead. Branding his wife the culprit, Émile's retaliation against Marguerite's cherished parrot sparked a silent battle of wills. Now they live parallel lives, communicating only through spiteful notes, mocking glances and mute accusations. As their suspicion and resentment mount, this bitter game of psychological warfare becomes a twisted necessity, binding them together in a relentless cycle of torment from which there can only be one escape.
First published in 1967, The Cat is a masterful exploration of marital discord, loneliness and the absurdity of human relationships, painting a vivid portrait of two souls trapped in quiet desperation.
| ISBN: | 9780241789179 |
| Publication date: | 6th November 2025 |
| Author: | Georges Simenon |
| Publisher: | Penguin Classics an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 160 pages |
| Series: | Penguin English Library |
| Genres: |
Classic fiction: general and literary Narrative theme: Love and relationships Narrative theme: Interior life Fiction in translation |
'Remarkable' New York Times
'[Simenon is] a bit of a master' Cillian Murphy
An acerbic tale of marital warfare and emotional estrangement, in a brilliant new translation
In the oppressive silence of the sitting room, the woman finally smoothed out the paper and, without putting on her glasses, read the two words her husband had written:
The cat.
Amidst the din of their Parisian neighbourhood, Émile and Marguerite live in total silence. After a hasty marriage in their sixties, their uneasy peace was shattered when Émile's beloved cat mysteriously disappeared and was later found dead. Branding his wife the culprit, Émile's retaliation against Marguerite's cherished parrot sparked a silent battle of wills. Now they live parallel lives, communicating only through spiteful notes, mocking glances and mute accusations. As their suspicion and resentment mount, this bitter game of psychological warfare becomes a twisted necessity, binding them together in a relentless cycle of torment from which there can only be one escape.
First published in 1967, The Cat is a masterful exploration of marital discord, loneliness and the absurdity of human relationships, painting a vivid portrait of two souls trapped in quiet desperation.
The Cat features in the following genres: Classic fiction: general and literary, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Interior life, Fiction in translation
The Cat is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Cat was written by Georges Simenon and published by Penguin Classics an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd
The Cat has 160 pages
Yes it is part of Penguin English Library series