2025 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-13 07:23
The plots of Paul Gallico's books are recognizable and simple, as they are found on the pages of many publications. But the author manages not only to tell about his characters and evoke compassion in little readers, but to teach them friendship, the ability to forgive, loy alty and responsibility for those they love.
Who is the author?
Paul Gallico was born in 1897 in New York City to immigrant parents. He graduated from high school there and entered Columbia University, after which he worked as a film critic. For "too smart" reviews, he was removed from this position, transferred to the sports department and in 1923 appointed its editor in the Daily News. Gallico became one of the most famous sports commentators, organizer of the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition, but he always wanted to realize himself in the literary field as a writer.
The future author of the story "Jenny" Paul Gallico (photo is presented in the article above) wrote articles and short stories. In 1936, he sold one of his stories to the cinema and left for Europe to take up writing. The first published work was "Farewell tosports." The name of the author was known in America, but after the release of "The Snow Goose" in 1941, they started talking about him all over the world.
During World War II, he was a war correspondent and freelance writer. The writer traveled a lot, lived in England, Monaco, Mexico, Liechtenstein. Died in 1976 in Antibes.
How does he write?
The author of the story "Jenny" Paul Gallico was a professional storyteller. He was fond of fishing, hunting, was an excellent yachtsman, traveled by car around America. The writer had enough talent, knowledge, sincerity, tact and skill to captivate the reader, make him empathize with the characters and think about serious things. Many of his books talk about animals, which is not surprising, because the writer had a dog and 23 cats in his house, about which at least five works have been written.
One of the hallmarks of Paul Gallico's style, "Jenny" is a prime example, is frankness. If he wants readers to know that his character was kind, he says, "He had a good heart." If, on the contrary, he is cynical, then the writer does not beat around the bush, writes: "Completely cynical." This is the strength of his writings - sincerity, clear details and impeccable style of a folk tale.
What does he write about?
The stories of Paul Gallico, "Jenny" included, may seem naive and trite, but they are fascinating and imply that a non-human character has a human spirit. In his short works there arecruelty and mercy, love and hate. The writer presents them so beautifully, delicately and wisely that they do their job - they help to find the right solutions, prompted by the heart, they teach to love, forgive, understand and be more tolerant of each other. For example:
- Ten years of pain, despair, struggle fit in a short story "The Witch's Doll". Dr. Emoni, walking around the city, saw a strange doll in a shop window. The rag toy was “sewn wonderfully”, as if not from scraps, but from flesh and blood. It turned out that the vulgar Yazvit brings them. Soon she called the doctor to her sick sister Mary, and he understood who sewed these lovely dolls, radiating love and kindness. As readers write in reviews of Paul Gallico's books, "Jenny", "A Little Miracle", "Flowers for Mrs. Harris", they teach mercy.
- Hiram Halliday's Adventures, published in 1939, tells the story of a carefree American knight who came to Europe before World War II. He fights against the Nazis, saves the Austrian princess and his little son, who, after the victory over fascism, is destined to become the new emperor.
- "The Snow Goose" tells the story of the artist Philip, who lives alone in a lighthouse. With a mutilated body and a repulsive appearance, he created real beauty. Once Frida brought him a wounded goose. The artist came out and cured him, and the girl saw that Philip was not ugly at all, but handsome and noble.
No less fascinating are the novels "The Adventures of Poseidon", "Lou Gering", "Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris", which grew out of the legend "Ludmila", "Love for Sevendolls”, touching stories about animals “Thomasina” and “Jenny”, which we will talk about in more detail.
Who is Jenny?
Paul Gallico's fairy tale "Jenny" tells the story of a boy who turns into a kitten. Lonely and homeless, he finds friends among the four-legged abodes of the city. Jenny the cat became his mentor and best friend. Offended by people, she avoids them. Jenny tells Peter about cat laws and regulations. He, in turn, teaches her to understand a person, kindness and be able to accept love.
The story in Paul Gallico's book "Jenny" begins with an introduction to the main character. The boy lies sick in bed and remembers that he always wanted to have a kitten. Mom, who did not want to stay at home while her father was in the service, had no time for her son. The nanny who looked after the boy hated cats and, having found another four-legged friend in the room, drove them away with a mop.
What are you waiting for, baby?
In oblivion, the boy dreamed that he had become a kitten. Thus began his adventure. A small helpless lump, having got into the street, was confused. Wet to the skin in the pouring rain, chilled, hungry and took refuge in a warehouse. But the overweight huge cat pounced on him and drove him away.
When Peter woke up, his whole body was in pain, and a motley cat was sitting in front of him. Peter told her that he was a boy, not a cat. Jenny asked him not to tell anyone about this and taught him how to wash. Cats always do this:
When it's hard, wash yourself. If you made a mistake, got upset or offended - wash yourself. Are they laughing at you? Wash yourself! Don't want a fight? Wash yourself. Sad, upset? Get a hold of yourself and take a bath. You will feel better.
Readers note in reviews of "Jenny" by Paul Gallico that even adults, not only children, have something to learn from the wise animal from this story. Jenny taught Peter how to jump and turn in the air, how to cross the street and how to catch mice. The boy obeyed her in everything. The only thing he couldn't understand was why she hated people? Even if she was betrayed, can't she be forgiven?
Where are you going?
Peter and Jenny went to the pier. On the way, they looked into the house of a good-natured old man, who fed them liver and milk to drink. Peter was not alien to human feelings, it was not without reason that the writer Paul Gallico left them to him. Jenny, having eaten, ran out the door and called a new friend with her. The cats ran, and the old man stood on the porch, looked after them and shouted for them to stay. Peter's heart sank and he said that he and Jenny were doing mean things now and should stay. To which the cat snorted and replied, “What else?”
At the pier, Jenny told Peter that she dreamed of going to Glasgow, but she always came to the wrong place. There are a lot of ships here, but she can't read. But Peter could do it. They found the ship they wanted, boarded it, and headed straight for where the supplies were stored. Jenny taught Peter how to fight rats. The smart cat did not eat the caught rodents, but folded them. When the cook came forfood, before his eyes appeared eight mice, a rat and two cats, sitting with the look of winners. The captain allowed Jenny and Peter to stay on the ship.
Can cats swim?
One day Jenny was thrown overboard. Peter, seeing how his girlfriend was drowning in the sea, without hesitation, rushed after her. Peter tugged at Jenny's tail with the last of his strength, preventing her from drowning. Sailors came to their aid. Miracle, when the cat rushed into the sea to save his girlfriend, they saw for the first time. Peter cried all night, sitting over Jenny's lifeless body. Only in the morning did she open her eyes.
When the ship arrived at the port, the cats went to the city, not wanting to return to the ship. Fleeing from the dogs, they climbed onto a high drawbridge and hung helplessly there all night, clinging with their paws with the last of their strength. Jenny said: “They say cats are tenacious. But not always lucky. Farewell, Peter.”
A crowd of onlookers gathered under the bridge. The rescuers arrived. They pulled out a long ladder and removed the cats from the bridge. Jenny burst into tears and confessed to Peter that they really did mean things, running away from a lonely old man who warmed them up and begged them to stay. They returned to their city and went to him. But it was too late. He died.
Peter desperately wanted to go home. Along the way, Jenny met her former mistress, it turned out that no one had abandoned her. The family moved to the hotel during the renovation, and the cat, offended by everyone, ran away.
After the fight with the big cat, Peter was awakened by Jenny's voice. He opened his eyes and said, "I think hekilled." The cat was crying and yelling "Peter!" Overcoming the pain, he opened his eyes and saw that in front of him was sitting … mother.
What are they saying?
Readers write in their reviews of "Jenny" by Paul Gallico that this is a bright and kind book, but it makes you cry and be touched. Written in a simple and understandable language, the story touches the very soul of the reader. The story of Jenny is useful to know not only for children, but also for adults. Cat lover Gallico reveals in her the subtleties of the behavior of these animals.
The book about the boy who turned into a cat, as they say in the reviews of "Jenny" by Paul Gallico, is actually a story of love and kindness. Having become an animal, Peter learns not only to lick himself thoroughly and catch mice, but also to take care of those who are dear, come to their aid and fight for them. And his mentor Jenny is also learning to understand people, forgive and trust. A children's book, but how much wisdom is in it.