In this sentimental, didactic fable, Masson imagines how the lone, nonsocial, domesticated animal came to share hearth and home.Billi, an Asian leopard cat, lives in a mango forest in ancient India. He enjoys his independence, but he feels pangs of loneliness and curiosity about the two-foots; He learns their languages - Hindi, Malayam and Sanskrit - and he can "e;see the appeal of south India's three major religions."e;Billi embarks on a quest to learn more about humans by discovering what their animals think of them. A water buffalo mourns being underappreciated; a parrot bemoans his cage; a mongoose tells a chilling story about human ingratitude. Billi reminds a cow that it's worshipped by humans. "e;Oh, great,"e; the cow says. That and five rupees will get you a chapati. Nine months of travel and no truly good word for humans leaves Billi undeterred and, back home, he seeks out a young girl he'd often watched. It's not easy proving his good intentions or trying to be the only animal to have a mutually satisfying relationship with humans, but Billi makes it happen in a story that's heartwarming not only for the passionate cat fan but for all readers.

© 2012 Untreed Reads (E-bok): 9781611874280

Utgivelsesdato

E-bok: 1. september 2012