Varjak Paw Explained

Author:	S. F. Said
Illustrator:	Dave McKean
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Genre:	Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher:	David Fickling Books
Pub Date:	1 January 2003
Media Type:	hardback paperback
Pages:	255
Isbn:	0-385-60415-7
Isbn Note:	(hardback) (paperback)
Congress:	PZ7.S1315 Var 2003
Oclc:	50938878
Followed By:	The Outlaw Varjak Paw

Varjak Paw (2003) is a novel by the British author S. F. Said and illustrated by Dave McKean.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} The illustrations in this book have a dark "gothic" quality. The novel received the 2003 Smarties Gold Award for the 6–8 years range^[5] and has been adapted for other media.

Characters

• Varjak Paw, a very young kitten and the main protagonist of the story.
• Jalal the Paw, a Mesopotamian blue cat who ventured out into the Outside and found a home with the Countessa.
• Elder Paw, Varjak's grandfather and one of the few who remembers (part of) The Way of Jalal. And also the one that trusts and talks to Varjak in the family of Jalal.
• Sally Bones, the mysterious white cat who lords over the West Side of the city. She knows "The Way".
• Razor, Sally Bones' lieutenant.
• Ginger, the ruler of the East Side of the city.
• The Contessa, the old woman who owns the family of Jalal.
• The Gentleman, a mysterious man who appears one day at the Contessa's house.
• The Black Cats, two black cats that accompany The Gentleman, perfect fighting machines that are almost invulnerable.
• Cludge, a dog who Varjak meets and who saves him from the Gentleman.
• Julius Paw, Varjak's older brother
• Father, son of Elder Paw, father of Jay, Jerome, Jethro, Julius, and Varjak.
• Aunt Juni, mother to Jasmine, aunt to Jay, Jethro, Jerome, Julius, and Varjak.
• Mother, mother of Jay, Jethro, Jerome, Julius, and Varjak.
• Holly, Varjak’s future mate later on.
• Tam, a tabby cat and Holly, and Varjak's best friend.

Background

The book's title and protagonist's name come from Said's own cat named Varjak, whose name is a reference to the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. In the film, one of the main characters, Paul Varjak, has written a book called "Nine Lives". When he and another character look for the book in the library catalog, it is listed as "Nine Lives by Varjak, Paul".

Adaptations

Theatre

In October 2013, Playbox Theatre Company took on Varjak Paw in a major multi-media production.^[6]

Opera

In 2010, composer Julian Philips completed an opera on Varjak Paw, to a libretto by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, performed by The Opera Group in September–November.^{[7] [8]}

Film

As of March 2006, Varjak Paw has been optioned by The Jim Henson Company to be developed as an animated family feature film, with Faith Fawusi as director.^[9]

Sequel

The book spawned a sequel in 2005, The Outlaw Varjak Paw.^{[10] [11]}

External links

• Official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Varjak Paw . Fantastic Fiction . https://web.archive.org/web/20100331083916/http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/sf-said/varjak-paw.htm . March 31, 2010.
2. Roback . Diane . Brown . Jennifer M. . Bean . Joy . Zaleski . Jeff . 2003-04-28 . Varjak Paw (Book) . . en-US . 250 . 17 . 0000-0019.
3. Burkam . Anita L. . July-August 2003 . Varjak Paw . . en-US . 79 . 4 . 0018-5078.
4. 2003-05-01 . Varjak Paw (Book) . . en-US . 71 . 9 . 1948-7428.
5. News: 2003-12-01 . Smarties Book Prize winners 2003 . . . en-GB.
6. Web site: History . Playbox Theatre . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201837/http://www.playboxtheatre.com/aboutus/History.html . October 29, 2013.
7. News: Dammann . Guy . 2008-09-29 . Varjak Paw . 2021-12-14 . . en-GB.
8. Web site: Varjak Paw . The Opera Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211907/http://www.theoperagroup.co.uk/?p=756 . October 29, 2013.
9. Web site: Henson plans 'Varjak Paw' animated film . Muppet Central News . March 26, 2006.
10. Saecker . Tasha . Jones . Trevelyn E. . Toth . Luann . Charnizon . Marlene . Grabarek . Daryl . Raben . Dale . February 2006 . The Outlaw Varjak Paw . . en-US . 52 . 2 . 0362-8930.
11. News: Gorman . James . 2006-02-12 . 'The Outlaw Varjak Paw,' by SF Said. Illustrated by Dave McKean. . 2024-02-21 . . 19 . en-US . 0028-7806.