I Had a Dog and a Cat’ is a delightful book – suitable for both children and adults, translated by Marie and Robert Weatherall, and illustrated by Josef and Karel Capek. It is a comical tome, dealing in detail with our most beloved of pets, and was first published in 1940. The text and the Capek’s wonderful black-and-white drawings are presented side-by-side, so that the two may be better appreciated. Karel Capek (1890 – 1938) was a Czech writer, best known for his science fiction, including his novel War with the Newts and the play, R. U. R, which introduced the word, ‘robot’. He maintained a close relationship with his brother Josef (1887 – 1945), and the two lived and worked together for most of their adult life. Marie and Robert Weatherall were a similarly close (though married) couple, from Czechoslovakia, who collaborated in translating Karel Capek’s work into English. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.
