The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr

Interesting Facts

• The book is an unusual combination of the autobiography of a cat and the biography of his owner, composer Johannes Kreisler.
• The work is written in the form of a diary kept by Tomcat Murr, an intelligent and self-satisfied cat who considers himself a philosopher.
• Tomcat Murr accidentally uses drafts of Kreisler's biography as drafts for his own writings, leading to an unexpected intertwining of the two stories.
• The book is a satire on society and human weaknesses, mocking pretentiousness and self-satisfaction.
• The work includes elements of Romanticism and grotesque, making it unique in the literature of its time.
• Despite his animal nature, Tomcat Murr possesses human traits and philosophizes on various topics, creating a comedic effect.
• The book was written during a period when Hoffmann was experiencing financial difficulties, which is reflected in its satirical and critical tone.