The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2000

Tanaquil Le Clercq (October 2, 1929 to December 31, 2000) wrote about her cat.





That was in Mourka : the autobiography of a cat (1964).  Martha Swope did the photographs for the book.







Books have been written about Tanaquil Le Clercq also. She was "the daughter of Jacques Le Clercq, a writer of short stories and translator of French literature, and Edith Whittemore, a St. Louis debutante," to quote the New York Times.
. She was the principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Both Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine adored her. She married Balanchine and they loved their cat. Balanchine is quoted as saying the cat "had a body worth choreographing for." 

There ultimately was no way for Tanaquil Le Clercq herself, to dance: she contracted polio on a Denmark tour, and was left disabled.

Her story is one of beauty and bravery.

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