Cats, Quills & Curious Tales w Susannah Fullerton

Literary gossip. Feline mischief. One utterly unmissable lunchtime event.

What do Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens and Colette have in common?
Answer: they were all gloriously, hopelessly, unapologetically owned by cats.

In her latest talk, literary historian and master storyteller Susannah Fullerton takes us on a whiskered romp through the lives of 17 great writers and the cats who curled up in their manuscripts, strutted through their salons, and left muddy pawprints across their genius.

This talk will be a riot of eccentric anecdotes, curious claws and literary love affairs – from Mark Twain renting kittens for companionship to Dr Johnson feeding oysters to Hodge, we meet the muses, mischief-makers and editorial assistants with no sense of deadlines behind the famous authors.

This lighthearted talk is purrrrrfect for lovers of literature, cats and quirky true tales. It's paws-itively unmissable!

📅 Date: Monday 27 October at 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Level 1, 280 Pitt Street
🎟️ Tickets: Free for SMSA members, $10 for Friends and Non-Members

Cats may not write novels, but they’ve certainly helped a few get written. Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them is a delightful deep dive into the lives of 17 literary legends and their whiskered companions. From Dr Johnson’s much-loved Hodge to Hemingway’s polydactyl clowder, these cats offered comfort, chaos, and the occasional edit via paw print. Susannah Fullerton explores how these feline muses crept into letters, poems, and even the odd war room — proving that inspiration sometimes purrs softly from a windowsill.

Whether it’s Mark Twain renting kittens on holiday, Colette ranking her cats above her husbands, or Edward Lear rewriting nonsense with a half-tailed Foss at his side, this book is full of charming, curious tales. Sprinkled with literary gossip, historical gems and cat-sized eccentricities, it’s the purrfect read for lovers of books, biographies and the fine art of being ignored by a cat.

“Great Writers and the Cats Who Own Them is utterly delightful! It is the perfect book for bibliophiles and lovers of cats alike, revealing how crucial cats have been to the creation of many of the world's most beloved books. Giving us a fascinating and light-hearted insight into the lives of writers as varied as Charles Dickens, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, Susannah Fullerton also reveals the long history of cats in the lives of humans, from the time they were worshipped as gods or reviled as the familiars of witches, to the cultural phenomenon that is the Cat in the Hat.” – Kate Forsyth

"I LOVED this book. So full of fascinating anecdotes and astute analysis of the creative relationship between great writers and the felines who controlled them. Anyone who loves cats and literature should read this book.” – Jennifer Kloester

Susannah Fullerton, OAM FRSN, is one of Australia’s best-known literary lecturers and President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, as well as Patron of the Kipling Society of Australia, a founding member of the NSW Dickens Society and of the Australian Brontë Association. She is a Lady Patroness of the International Heyer Society.

Susannah’s books include Jane Austen and Crime (the first ever study of crimes such as duelling, poaching, gambling, theft and even M**der in the writings of Jane Austen), Brief Encounters: Literary Travellers in Australia (Picador, Australia, 2009), A Dance with Jane Austen: How a Novelist and her Characters went to the Ball (Frances Lincoln, UK, 2012), Happily Ever After: Celebrating Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Frances Lincoln, UK, 2013) and Jane & I: A Tale of Austen Addiction (2017).

A passionate advocate for classic literature, she speaks widely across Australia and abroad, writes popular books on beloved authors, and leads literary tours around the world. She’s also the creator of Notes from a Book Addict, a free monthly newsletter for readers who love great writing.

Host or Publisher Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA)