Beware the Cat
William Baldwin
“Beware the Cat” is an English novel written by William Baldwin in 1553, making it one of the earliest examples of English fiction. The novel is a satirical and fantastical work that blends elements of folklore, social commentary, and the supernatural. The story is framed as a narrative within a narrative, with the protagonist, Mr. Streamer, recounting his experiences to a group of friends. Streamer, a curious and skeptical man, stumbles upon a hidden chamber where he witnesses a group of cats engaging in a secret assembly. To his surprise, the cats are not only intelligent but also capable of speech. As Streamer eavesdrops on the feline conversations, he discovers that the cats possess a complex society with its own set of rules and beliefs. The novel takes a satirical approach to criticize human behavior, using the cat society as a mirror to reflect societal issues of the time.
One of the notable aspects of “Beware the Cat” is its exploration of the supernatural, blending folklore and superstition with a fictional narrative. The novel incorporates elements of witchcraft, shape-shifting, and other mystical occurrences, adding a layer of intrigue and fantasy to the story. Overall, “Beware the Cat” is a unique and innovative work that offers a blend of social satire, fantasy, and early English fiction, making it a significant contribution to the literary landscape of its time.
Play sample:
Product Details
| Read by: | Douglas Harvey |
| Length: | 1 hour and 51 minutes |
| Type: | Solo reading |
| Media: | MP3 CD |
| Package: | Paper security sleeve |
| Item No.: | CD-1367 |
| EAN: | NA |
| List Price: | $3.99 |
Credits
Production
Book Coordinator: Douglas Harvey
Meta Coordinator: Douglas Harvey
Proof Listener: Nancy O'Malley
Artwork
Cover: Photo of Fritz, Mister Cat, 2025
Inset: Title page of 1570 edition, Wylliam Gryffith, London
Inset: Illustration from 1570 edition, page 2, Wylliam Gryffith, London
The Recordings
About MP3 Audio
This MP3 digital audiobook is duplicated on compact disc in the MP3 audio format and is designed to play on any computer. It will play on CD and DVD players that are designed with MP3 capability. The files contained in an MP3 CD can be imported and played on mobile devices such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and smart phones and on PSP (Play Station Portable) and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices. Your CD/DVD player or mobile device owner’s manual should specify whether the device has MP3 compatibility. If the device is not directly compatible with the MP3 Audio format, the files on the MP3 CD can be copied onto a computer drive and then played on the computer media player or transferred to a mobile device.
The Recordings
These recordings were made using the author’s original published work, which is in the public domain. The readings were recorded by members of Librivox.org, which has generously made the recordings available to the public domain. While Librivox condones the sale and distribution of these recordings, it is not associated with the management or operations of MP3 Audiobook Classics. The audio files have been edited and engineered using professional audio tools for maximum sonic quality. We spend considerable time and effort to ensure the recordings are free of noise, equalized for maximum listener pleasure, and that tracks are leveled and normalized to provide a consistent listening experience.
Table of Contents
| Track | Title | Length |
| 1 | 1 Preface and Introduction | 04:59 |
| 2 | 2 The Argument | 04:45 |
| 3 | 3 The First Part of Streamer's Story | 04:18 |
| 4 | 4 The Servant's Story | 02:12 |
| 5 | 5 The Churl and Grimalkin | 06:16 |
| 6 | 6 That Cats Have Language | 06:34 |
| 7 | 7 The Learned Man's Story | 10:31 |
| 8 | 8 The Second Part of of Master Streamer's Tale | 04:54 |
| 9 | 9 Master Streamer Gathers Ingredients | 04:42 |
| 10 | 10 Master Streamer Makes His Potion | 07:36 |
| 11 | 11 The Effect of the Lozenges | 08:09 |
| 12 | 12 The Third Part of Master Streamer's Tale | 05:14 |
| 13 | 13 Mouse-Slayer's Testimony | 06:01 |
| 14 | 14 Mouse-Slayer's Testimony Continues | 12:42 |
| 15 | 15 Mouse-Slayer in the Young Woman's House | 09:27 |
| 16 | 16 The Judgment of Mouse-Slayer | 08:05 |
| 17 | 17 An Exhortation | 02:37 |
| 18 | 18 Master Streamer's Hymn | 01:59 |
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