In this unique memoir, William Jordan's chance encounter with a stray cat leads to the formation of an unexpectedly deep bond, one that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of a pet. Jordan reluctantly adopts Darwin and presently begins to capitulate to the whims of this fickle feline, eventually clearing a large emotional and mental space for his companion.The endearing memoir of their relationship is made fresh and irresistible by "Jordan's self-effacing honesty, his ever-present wit and above all, the unashamed nakedness of his emotions" (San Diego Union-Tribune). Through issues of territory and separation, sickness and health, Jordan observes the cat not only with the love-struck gaze of a doting pet owner, but also with the keen eye of a trained scientist, ruminating insightfully on the complex relationship between humans and their pets. In the tradition of Cleveland Amory and Caroline Knapp, Jordan charts the way his beloved pet informs his growth as a human.
