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The Unlikely Bestseller: "Cat Called Elvis" and the Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy

Wade Cox

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Published in A Cat Called Elvis (MacMillan Poetry)

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In 1992, Carol Ann Duffy published a collection of poems titled "Cat Called Elvis." The book was an instant bestseller, selling over a million copies worldwide. This was an unexpected success for a book of poetry, especially one that was written in a relatively traditional style. So what made "Cat Called Elvis" so popular? And what does its success say about the state of poetry in the 21st century?

A Cat Called Elvis (MacMillan Poetry)

by Brian Moses

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1446 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	97 pages

The Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy is one of the most celebrated poets writing in English today. She is the author of over 20 collections of poetry, as well as several plays and children's books. Her work has been translated into over 25 languages and has won numerous awards, including the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Whitbread Poetry Award, and the Forward Poetry Prize. Duffy's poetry is known for its wit, humor, and emotional depth. She writes about a wide range of subjects, from love and loss to politics and social issues. She is also a master of form, and her poems are often written in traditional meters and rhyme schemes.

"Cat Called Elvis"

"Cat Called Elvis" is a collection of 60 poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. The poems are written in a variety of styles, from free verse to sonnets. The title poem is a moving elegy for Duffy's beloved cat, Elvis. The poem captures the deep bond between a human and an animal and the pain of losing a loved one.

Other poems in the collection explore the complexities of romantic love. Duffy writes about the joys and sorrows of love, as well as the challenges of maintaining a relationship. She also writes about the search for self-identity and the struggle to find one's place in the world.

The Success of "Cat Called Elvis"

The success of "Cat Called Elvis" is due to a number of factors. First, Duffy is a gifted poet who writes with wit, humor, and emotional depth. Her poems are accessible to a wide range of readers, and they speak to our common experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning. Second, the book was published at a time when there was a growing interest in poetry. The 1990s saw a number of popular poetry anthologies, such as "The Norton Anthology of Poetry" and "The Best American Poetry" series. This helped to create a new audience for poetry, and it made people more receptive to reading and enjoying poems.

Finally, the success of "Cat Called Elvis" can be attributed to its unique subject matter. The book is about a cat, and this is not a common subject for poetry. However, Duffy's poems about Elvis are so moving and insightful that they transcend the specific subject matter and speak to universal human experiences.

The State of Poetry in the 21st Century

The success of "Cat Called Elvis" is a sign that poetry is alive and well in the 21st century. People are still interested in reading and enjoying poems, and they are still finding new and innovative ways to express themselves through poetry. The success of "Cat Called Elvis" also shows that there is a place for traditional poetry in the modern world. Duffy's poems are written in traditional meters and rhyme schemes, and they still have the power to move and inspire readers.

"Cat Called Elvis" is a remarkable collection of poems that has touched the lives of millions of readers. It is a testament to the power of poetry to speak to our common human experiences. The success of "Cat Called Elvis" also shows that there is still a place for traditional poetry in the modern world.