Edward the Conqueror
Encyclopedia
"Edward the Conqueror" is a short story written by Roald Dahl
and first published in the 31 October 1953 issue of The New Yorker
.
While Louisa is admiring the cat’s color, she notices that it has warts on his face. After she is done admiring the cat, Louisa begins to play one of her daily concerts (a solitary pleasure that also seems to be one of her greatest passions). She chooses some pieces by Vivaldi, Schumann
, Liszt
and Brahms. Immediately, the cat reacts strongly, and even appears to be “appreciating the work.” The cat seems to be especially enthralled when Louisa plays Liszt's Petrarch Sonnets and Der Weihnachtsbaum, but less impressed with Schumann’s Kinderszenen.
Louisa becomes convinced that the cat is the reincarnation
of Liszt, and informs her husband. Edward isn't convinced, even when his wife shows him Liszt's reaction to the piano music. Edward believes the cat’s reactions to simply be a trick it was trained to perform, and refuses to take part in his wife’s excitement (It is implied that he is not as fond of music as Louisa). Louisa decides to go to the library to find out more about both Liszt and reincarnation. The book she checks out on reincarnation is very assertive about how long it takes one to be reincarnated (longer if your social status is higher). The book also says that you can't come back as a lower form of animal—a fact Louisa chooses to ignore as it would seem to contradict her cat previously having been Franz Liszt (also, for Liszt to come back so soon he would have to be classified under "unskilled labourers"). Finally, it mentions historical figures who were, it suggests, reincarnations of one another (Epictetus
, for instance, came back as Ralph Waldo Emerson
). Despite her incredulity, Louisa appears to believe what she is reading. She greets Edward returning from his work by saying, "Listen, my dear, did you know that Theodore Roosevelt
was once Caesar's wife?"
When she gets back from the library she calls for Liszt and examines him. She notices that the cat’s warts are positioned on its face in exactly the same positions as the warts on Liszt’s face were. She even notices that the cat seems to dislike one particular Chopin
scherzo (the only piece of Chopin's that Liszt himself didn't love). By this time, Edward has become noticeably antagonistic to his wife’s belief (perhaps spurred on by jealousy). Her plans are to tell the world, after which she believes that all the world's musicians will want to come and meet her cat. Edward thinks that her plans will make the two of them look like fools.
Louisa decides to cook a fancy dinner for the cat, and refuses to let her husband sway her. When she returns from the kitchen, she sees Edward coming in from the garden with black smoke, wet trouser cuffs, and a long scratches from his wrist to his knuckle - the implication being that he has thrown the cat on the fire. Louisa is horrified and falls into hysterics as Edward tries to calm her down.
, the ending was slightly changed. As Louisa deduces her husband has thrown the cat on the fire, she grabs a knife and it is implied she attacks him. However, the cat enters the house through a window, fine after all.
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
and first published in the 31 October 1953 issue of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
.
Plot summary
The story is about a man (Edward) and his wife (Louisa). A long haired silver cat is nearly burnt in the bonfire that Edward set up for the autumn leaves, but his wife rescues it. After the couple unsuccessfully attempts to send the cat back to its home, Edward decides that if the cat does not leave by the coming afternoon, he will ask the police to make sure it is returned home.While Louisa is admiring the cat’s color, she notices that it has warts on his face. After she is done admiring the cat, Louisa begins to play one of her daily concerts (a solitary pleasure that also seems to be one of her greatest passions). She chooses some pieces by Vivaldi, Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
and Brahms. Immediately, the cat reacts strongly, and even appears to be “appreciating the work.” The cat seems to be especially enthralled when Louisa plays Liszt's Petrarch Sonnets and Der Weihnachtsbaum, but less impressed with Schumann’s Kinderszenen.
Louisa becomes convinced that the cat is the reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Liszt, and informs her husband. Edward isn't convinced, even when his wife shows him Liszt's reaction to the piano music. Edward believes the cat’s reactions to simply be a trick it was trained to perform, and refuses to take part in his wife’s excitement (It is implied that he is not as fond of music as Louisa). Louisa decides to go to the library to find out more about both Liszt and reincarnation. The book she checks out on reincarnation is very assertive about how long it takes one to be reincarnated (longer if your social status is higher). The book also says that you can't come back as a lower form of animal—a fact Louisa chooses to ignore as it would seem to contradict her cat previously having been Franz Liszt (also, for Liszt to come back so soon he would have to be classified under "unskilled labourers"). Finally, it mentions historical figures who were, it suggests, reincarnations of one another (Epictetus
Epictetus
Epictetus was a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia , and lived in Rome until banishment when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece where he lived the rest of his life. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses...
, for instance, came back as Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
). Despite her incredulity, Louisa appears to believe what she is reading. She greets Edward returning from his work by saying, "Listen, my dear, did you know that Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
was once Caesar's wife?"
When she gets back from the library she calls for Liszt and examines him. She notices that the cat’s warts are positioned on its face in exactly the same positions as the warts on Liszt’s face were. She even notices that the cat seems to dislike one particular Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
scherzo (the only piece of Chopin's that Liszt himself didn't love). By this time, Edward has become noticeably antagonistic to his wife’s belief (perhaps spurred on by jealousy). Her plans are to tell the world, after which she believes that all the world's musicians will want to come and meet her cat. Edward thinks that her plans will make the two of them look like fools.
Louisa decides to cook a fancy dinner for the cat, and refuses to let her husband sway her. When she returns from the kitchen, she sees Edward coming in from the garden with black smoke, wet trouser cuffs, and a long scratches from his wrist to his knuckle - the implication being that he has thrown the cat on the fire. Louisa is horrified and falls into hysterics as Edward tries to calm her down.
Television adaptation
When this story was adapted for the first season of the television series Tales of the UnexpectedTales of the Unexpected (TV series)
Tales of the Unexpected is a British television series originally aired between 1979 and 1988, made by Anglia Television for ITV. Filming began in 1978.The series was an anthology of different tales...
, the ending was slightly changed. As Louisa deduces her husband has thrown the cat on the fire, she grabs a knife and it is implied she attacks him. However, the cat enters the house through a window, fine after all.