Cat O’ Nine Tales

About Cat O’ Nine Tales and Other Stories by Jeffrey Archer

Cat O’ Nine Tales is a short story collection by the British author Jeffrey Archer, published in the United Kingdom by Macmillan in 2006. It is his fifth collection of short stories and contains twelve stories. Readers who like a good yarn will find that these Nine Tales, together with three more, are unusual because of where many of them came from. Please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock.

Where the stories come from

Nine of the twelve stories draw on accounts that Archer heard while he was in prison, and the other three are based on real events from outside prison. That gives the collection a feeling of real life behind the fiction. The book is also illustrated by Ronald Searle, whose drawings add humour and character to the pages. Everything is written in Archer’s familiar manner, with a clear setup, a quick pace and an ending that often turns the story on its head.

Themes in Cat O’ Nine Tales

• Justice, guilt and the surprising ways in which people are found out
• Cleverness against authority, and the limits of both
• Human nature seen in difficult and confined circumstances
• Irony and fate, when a plan fails in a way nobody expected
• Humour that sits next to hardship

About the author

Jeffrey Archer first became known with Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less in 1976 and has gone on to write bestselling novels and several short story collections. In Cat O’ Nine Tales he brings together his skill as a storyteller with the stories he gathered during a period of his own life that many readers find intriguing.

Why this collection is worth reading

Short stories ask little of the reader but give a lot back. Each tale in this volume is complete in itself, so you can read one at a time and still feel satisfied. The mix of humour and seriousness makes the book enjoyable for adults and for older students, and the illustrations give it a friendly personality. It is also a helpful book for those who wish to read English fiction regularly without committing to a long novel.

Who should read it

• Fans of Jeffrey Archer and of twist-ending short fiction
• Students who want examples of the short story form in modern English
• Readers interested in stories rooted in real events
• Book lovers who enjoy illustrated editions
• Anyone looking for a gift for a keen reader

Tips for getting the most from the stories

Take your time with each tale and pay attention to how the author prepares the final turn. After finishing a story, ask yourself what you would have done in the same position. If you are building your English vocabulary, keep a small notebook and write down new words with their meanings. Reading a story aloud to a friend or family member is a good way to practise fluency and share the fun.

A good addition to your shelf

Whether you are building a personal library in Srinagar or sending a present to a friend elsewhere in India, this collection is easy to recommend. It is compact in idea, varied in content, and likely to be borrowed by anyone who sees it on your shelf.

Edition details

Language: English. Author: Jeffrey Archer. Title: Cat O’ Nine Tales. A collection of twelve short stories, first published in the UK by Macmillan in 2006, with illustrations by Ronald Searle. For the publisher, edition, number of pages and condition of the copy in stock, please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar. Delivery takes about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days across the rest of India.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Cat O’ Nine Tales? Jeffrey Archer.

How many stories are in the collection? Twelve.

Who illustrated it? Ronald Searle.

Are the stories connected? Each story stands alone, so you can read them in any order.

How quickly will it reach me? We dispatch the same day from Srinagar. Delivery is about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days across the rest of India.

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