Orlando (fictional cat)

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Orlando (the Marmalade Cat)
First appearanceOrlando (the Marmalade Cat): A Camping Holiday (1938)
Last appearanceOrlando and the Water Cats (1972)
Created by Kathleen Hale
In-universe information
SpeciesMarmalade Cat
GenderMale (has a wife)
TitleOrlando (the Marmalade Cat)
OccupationPet cat, adventurer
SpouseGrace
ChildrenPansy (tortoiseshell), Blanche (white), Tinkle (black)
RelativesPansy, Blanche, Tinkle

Orlando (The Marmalade Cat) is the fictional eponymous hero of the series (of the same name) of 19 illustrated children's books written by Kathleen Hale between 1938 and 1972, issued by various publishers including Country Life and Puffin Picture Books . The series involves a marmalade cat (most likely a ginger tabby) named Orlando, and his adventures with his family and wife named Grace.

Contents

Background

The Orlando (The Marmalade Cat) books were created by Kathleen Hale for her two children, and Orlando was inspired by their real-life cat Orlando. [1] When Country Life first published Orlando (the Marmalade Cat): A Camping Holiday, it became an instant success. Kathleen Hale then continued the series, giving Orlando a magic carpet in 1958, and ended the series with Orlando and the Water Cats (1972).

Plot

Orlando's family consist of his wife Grace, and three kittens: Blanche (white), Pansy (tortoiseshell) and Tinkle (black). [2] The family, especially Orlando, get involved in many adventures together and make friends as they do so. They can range from going to the Moon (Orlando Goes to the Moon), becoming a replacement judge (Orlando the Judge) or to keeping a large black poodle dog (Orlando (the Marmalade Cat): Keeps a Dog).

Characters

Major

Minor

Books

Books in the series are: [4]

Legacy

In 1994, a stamp featuring Orlando the Marmalade Cat was released. A one-penny stamp, it shows Orlando writing what is possibly a letter with a quill. The foreground shows green wallpaper. [5]

References

  1. Hale, Kathleen (1952). Orlando (The Marmalade Cat): A Seaside Holiday. Penguin Group. p. inside back flap. ISBN   978-0-72-323651-1.{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  2. Hahn, Daniel (26 March 2015). The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature. Oxford University Press. p. 433. ISBN   978-0-19-969514-0.
  3. "Page 2 and 3 of Orlando Goes to the Moon". ???. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. "Books by Kathleen Hale". GoodReads. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. Roberts, Patrick (March 2008). "Orlando the Marmalade Cat". Purr 'n' Fur Feline Folios. Retrieved May 29, 2019.