R. Anning Bell illustrated and engraved this fairy tale based on real people and real places. It was published for The Banbury Cross Series in 1894.
Dick Whittington and his Cat is printed as the second tale in the same book as The Sleeping Beauty.
The publisher, of course, is J. M. Dent & Co.
We will start the graphics with a frontispiece. It's not a scene from the beginning of the tale but probably the most important in the story. When Dick really had enough of bad treatment in the kitchen, he decided to leave the household of Fitwarrens. But then, when he was sitting at Holloway, he heard the bells singing that he would become the Major of London.
So he returned and the rest is history.
frontispiece
But we should start at the beginning.
So he returned and the rest is history.
frontispiece
But we should start at the beginning.
Richard Whittington lost both parents when he was too young to even remember them. He lived in the village where everybody was poor. Only from time to time somebody spared a potato or a crust of bread to give it to the poor and dirty boy.
Dick, just like everybody else spent most of his time dreaming about better times and places. It seems that all the villagers believed the same. London is the place to be. Everybody is rich there and everybody has fun all the time.
Even the streets are paved with gold.
Even the streets are paved with gold.
One day a carriage drove through the village. It was looking so good Dick immediately knew it would go to London. He asked the coachman if he could walk by and that's how he went to London.
But there were no golden streets.
People didn't look rich. At least not enough to give him some change so he could buy some food.
But there were no golden streets.
People didn't look rich. At least not enough to give him some change so he could buy some food.
Dick was weak. He sat in the corner where a gentleman saw him and offered him a job.
Dick worked at a hay field for some time and things were good until the season was over.
Then he was alone and hungry and without a roof over his head again.
He was so starved and exhausted he almost fell at the door of Fitzwarrens. Dick didn't know who is Mr Fitzwarren and didn't really care. He just wanted to rest.
But Mr Fitzwarren's cook saw him and started yelling that he should leave.
He was so starved and exhausted he almost fell at the door of Fitzwarrens. Dick didn't know who is Mr Fitzwarren and didn't really care. He just wanted to rest.
But Mr Fitzwarren's cook saw him and started yelling that he should leave.
Fortunately for Dick, Mr. Fitzewarren, who was a rich merchant and nice person in general just came by and asked what was going on. When he saw the boy's poor condition he arranged a dinner for him and got him a job.
Dick became a kitchen helper but the cook still yelled at him on every occasion.
Mr Fitzwarren's daughter Miss Alice heard about his troubles and insisted that the cook should be nicer.
Dick became a kitchen helper but the cook still yelled at him on every occasion.
Mr Fitzwarren's daughter Miss Alice heard about his troubles and insisted that the cook should be nicer.
Dick's life became easier yet he still didn't enjoy it too much because his place for sleep was full of mice and rats.
When he saved his first penny he bought a cat and for some time he enjoyed piece.
When he saved his first penny he bought a cat and for some time he enjoyed piece.
Then Mr. Fitzwarren called all his servants, including Dick. His ship was about to sail away with all kinds of goods in the hope of being sold for good money. Everybody in the house had an opportunity to add something of his own to have a chance to earn part of the profit. Dick didn't have anything but his cat.
Mr. Fitzwarren told him to add his cat to the ship's cargo. Dick was very sad but obeyed.
Mr. Fitzwarren told him to add his cat to the ship's cargo. Dick was very sad but obeyed.
When the ship departed Dick's troubles with mice and rats returned. He also became the laughingstock of some other members of the household. Especially the cook mocked him.
Dick was so unhappy he decided to leave the house of Fitzwarrens. When he was already way on his way, he made a stop for a short rest at Holloway.
He was sitting on the stone when the bells started ringing. It sounded like they were singing s song. The song was strange but simple. It told him to turn again. And it addressed him as Lord Major Whittington!
Dick was astonished. He, Lord Major?
So he returned to the house of Fitzwarrens.
In the meantime, the ship reached the kingdom of Barbary. There lived Moors. They were friendly and rich and very keen on buying cargo from the ship.
They just had one major problem - the kingdom was infested with mice and rats.
He was sitting on the stone when the bells started ringing. It sounded like they were singing s song. The song was strange but simple. It told him to turn again. And it addressed him as Lord Major Whittington!
Dick was astonished. He, Lord Major?
So he returned to the house of Fitzwarrens.
In the meantime, the ship reached the kingdom of Barbary. There lived Moors. They were friendly and rich and very keen on buying cargo from the ship.
They just had one major problem - the kingdom was infested with mice and rats.
The captain of Fitzwarren's ship offered Dick's cat to the king and the animal really solved the problem by killing a huge amount of rodents in record-breaking time.
The Moors were enchanted with the cat and paid the captain an enormous compensation.
Fitzwarren's business was unexpectedly profitable.
When the ship returned to the port and the captain came to the Fitzwarren's house, Dick had no idea how high the price that his cat achieved.
When the ship returned to the port and the captain came to the Fitzwarren's house, Dick had no idea how high the price that his cat achieved.
The master of the house sent a servant to call Dick and join everybody in the dining room.
Dick couldn't believe the good news. He tried to give most of the money to his master but Mr. Fitzwarrren categorically refused to take even one penny from the newly acquired wealth. He suggested that Mr. Whittigton (not Dick anymore!) put his riches into safety.
The boy bought presents for everybody. Even for the cook.
Dick couldn't believe the good news. He tried to give most of the money to his master but Mr. Fitzwarrren categorically refused to take even one penny from the newly acquired wealth. He suggested that Mr. Whittigton (not Dick anymore!) put his riches into safety.
The boy bought presents for everybody. Even for the cook.
Then he invested some time and money into washing himself and getting some nice clothes.
Alice who was already fond of Dick acknowledged how handsome is he actually.
Mr. Fitzwarren supported the relationship between his daughter and the boy who suddenly became so rich. They soon married.
And yes, Richard Whittington later became Lord Major of London.
And yes, Richard Whittington later became Lord Major of London.
This story bears some resemblances with the popular fairy tale Puss in Boots and the legend Piper of Hamelin but its most interesting characteristic is that it depicts real people and places. That is not usual in fairy tales.
Richard Whittington and family Fitzwarren really lived and he was really Lord Major of London. Very successful and popular Major, if we may add. He made his wealth through trading but was not an orphan or poor as the boy in the story above. The documents don't mention any cats.
If you are still curious you can read more about the real Dick Whittington.
We hope you enjoyed the story!
Richard Whittington and family Fitzwarren really lived and he was really Lord Major of London. Very successful and popular Major, if we may add. He made his wealth through trading but was not an orphan or poor as the boy in the story above. The documents don't mention any cats.
If you are still curious you can read more about the real Dick Whittington.
We hope you enjoyed the story!
The book was printed in Edinburgh by Turnbull and Spears.