March 25, 1881

Mary Webb (March 25, 1881 to October 8, 1927) was a British writer, of poetry, of novels, and at one time was called the most famous writer in Shropshire. Her book, Gone to Earth (1917) contains some interesting cat references, like this description of a disgruntled rural man, who remarked: "to the cat in a sour lugubrious voice, as he always did when ruffled: 'There's no cats i' the Bible.' "

Gone to Earth, ends with the heroine's death after she falls over a quarry edge, trying to protect her pet fox from a group of fox hunters, and their dogs. You may appreciate, from this detail, how Mary Webb became an object of satire. Cold Comfort Farm (1932) by Stella Gibbons, is said to riff on Webb's view of country life. I must say, though, that it is difficult to convey the depth of feeling one can have for pets, and so such a plot twist, as the ending of Gone to Earth, may have an artistic justification. Also, the book is full of glimpses of very authentic details of forgotten country life, that resound with an historical clarity. And the image of country folk as stupid in Cold Comfort Farm, may carry satire a bit far.

If you want to read Gone to Earth online use this link, because Google Books has hidden the text of the book beneath a bunch of versions that are partial view or no preview, for whatever reason.