A review by jenniferfrye
The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr by E.T.A. Hoffmann

4.0

Should anyone be audacious enough to think of casting doubt on the sterling worth of this remarkable book, let him reflect that he is dealing with a tomcat possessed of intellect, understanding, and sharp claws.

How delightfully whimsical!

I think it's fair to say that The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr is unlike anything I've read. The premise is wacky, and Hoffmann commits.

And he was (mostly) successful. The Tomcat Murr sections of the story are one of my favorite things I've read all year. Hoffman, clearly a fellow cat person, perfectly captures the attitude an educated cat would have: Murr is arrogant and vain and impossible not to love. While his adventures aren't particularly fantastic, his voice is filled with personality and wonderfully captivating.

I was less enamored by the "waste paper" sections centered around Kreisler. Initially I was incredibly confused by what was happening—I'm still not sure if these sections were in chronological order?—and never particularly found myself attached to any of these characters, eccentric though they may be and as fairy-tale-esque as their story was. As it progressed, though, it certainly grew on me, and by the end I was fairly well caught up in the various intrigue and romance plots. (Also, Prince Ignatious was a surprising character to come across. He seems to have some type of intellectual disability, which isn't something I've seen represented in literature from this time period.) And then it just kind of…ends? After doing some googling it seems like Hoffman left this unfinished as he'd planned to write a third book. Presumably, then, he intended to wrap up most of these plot threads, but it's still somewhat unsatisfying that none of the waste paper characters find closure.

I'm sure there's much more depth to this novel in terms of satire, social commentary, philosophy, etc. that went entirely over my head. I, as a casual reader, can only say that I found it a lighthearted, enjoyable little novel that I wish had been completed.

Some favorite passages:

First I purred, then I discovered that inimitable talent of waving my tail in the most graceful of coils, and then the wonderful gift of expressing joy, pain, delight and rapture, terror and despair, in short, all feelings and passions in their every nuance with the single little word, ‘Miaow’. What is human speech compared to this simplest of all simple means of making oneself understood?

At last, one day when the Master was out, I overcame my fear and jumped up on the desk. With what voluptuous pleasure did I sit among the books and papers, burrowing about in them! It was not mischief, no, it was pure desire, it was scholarly voracity that led me to catch up a manuscript in my paws and buffet it this way and that until it lay before me torn to bits.

…even as I write this there blazes above my head that wondrous constellation which shines into my soul and out of my soul again in true affinity – yes, I feel the glowing, burning ray of the long-tailed comet on my brow – yes, I myself am the glowing comet, the celestial meteor passing prophetically in great glory through the world.

So saying, the Master went running about the room with the speed and liveliness of a young man, wound up the machinery and arranged the magic mirrors. In every corner, devices came to life: automatons strutted about, turning their heads, and an artificial cockerel beat his wings and crowed, while screeching parrots flew circling around them,…

Can there be any more comfortable condition than to be wholly satisfied with oneself? I purred!