Cat Royal (series)
Encyclopedia
Cat Royal is a series of 6 historical fiction books by Julia Golding
, the British
novelist. The main character of the series is an orphan named Catherine ("Cat") Royal. The series are set in 18th Century London
where Cat lives in the Theatre Royal
, Drury Lane
. The main themes are slavery and equality between people from all races and social classes. Originally, the books had illustrated covers, but these were later replaced with photographic covers, with a model representing the protagonist, Cat Royal. The model is Amalia Austin.
Frank Avon/ Lord Francis: Mischievous friend of Cat. Member of The Butcher's Boys, Syd's gang. Heir to a dukedom.
Billy "Boil" Shepherd: A recurring antagonist, the leader of a rival gang to Syd's. Billy has a particular obsession with Cat and a desire to both kill and possess her, mind, body and soul. He has poor taste and is 'moving up the ladder'. Because of his newfound wealth he collects jewels.
Syd Fletcher/Bow Street Butcher: Cat's oldest and most loyal friend in Covent Garden
. Syd is a boxer and leader of the Butcher's Boys, a Covent Garden gang. He is in love with Cat, he is planning a life for them together, although Cat is not so sure about this. Syd often threatens violence against any person who has frightened/hurt/affected Cat in a negative way, something that Cat finds sweet but distressing.
Lizzie Avon/ Lady Elizabeth: Johnny's sweetheart and now wife. Lizzie is a loyal friend to Cat. Her brother is Frank.
Johnny Smith/Fitzroy/ Lord Jonathan Fitzroy/ Captain Sparkler: The prompt at Theatre Royal until he leaves on exile to America. he has a secret profession as the rebel cartoonist Captain Sparkler.
Pedro: One of Cat's close friends, an African former slave and talented musician, also a member of Syd's gang. Pedro is very proud about his talent.
Mr Sheridan: Cat's patron and owner of Drury Lane Theater
Signor AngeliniPedro's master at the theater. Conductor of the theater orchestra, and very passionate about music, especially his apprentice Pedro.
Duke of Avon: Frank and Lizzie's father and duke of Avon.
Duchess of Avon/The Bristol Nightingale: Wife of the duke, and a retired singer. The Duchess is very informal and friendly to all.
Joseph: Frank's footman and friend to Cat.
Nick: Syd's right hand man and assistant leader of the butcher's boys.
Joe: A member of Syds gang. Also street card sharp.
Meat Pie Matt: Member of Billy's gang.
Ferret Face: Another member of Billy's gang.
Charles Hengrave: Franks friend.
Lord Fitzroy: Johnny's father, helps Cat out a difficult situation.
Julia Golding
Julia Golding is a British novelist.Julia Golding grew up on the edge of Epping Forest. She originally read English at the University of Cambridge. She then joined the Foreign Office and worked in Poland...
, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
novelist. The main character of the series is an orphan named Catherine ("Cat") Royal. The series are set in 18th Century London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where Cat lives in the Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
. The main themes are slavery and equality between people from all races and social classes. Originally, the books had illustrated covers, but these were later replaced with photographic covers, with a model representing the protagonist, Cat Royal. The model is Amalia Austin.
Characters
Catherine "Cat" Royal: An orphan left on the steps of Drury Lane theater. She was taken in by Mr Sheridan, the theater owner. Cat is very strong-willed, independent and funny. She hates it when she is looked down upon for being a waif, and she wants to be in Syd's gang but has never been allowed because Syd has romantic feelings for her, and doesn't want to see her as 'one of the lads.' She is an aspiring novelist and loves acting and living in the theater.Frank Avon/ Lord Francis: Mischievous friend of Cat. Member of The Butcher's Boys, Syd's gang. Heir to a dukedom.
Billy "Boil" Shepherd: A recurring antagonist, the leader of a rival gang to Syd's. Billy has a particular obsession with Cat and a desire to both kill and possess her, mind, body and soul. He has poor taste and is 'moving up the ladder'. Because of his newfound wealth he collects jewels.
Syd Fletcher/Bow Street Butcher: Cat's oldest and most loyal friend in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Syd is a boxer and leader of the Butcher's Boys, a Covent Garden gang. He is in love with Cat, he is planning a life for them together, although Cat is not so sure about this. Syd often threatens violence against any person who has frightened/hurt/affected Cat in a negative way, something that Cat finds sweet but distressing.
Lizzie Avon/ Lady Elizabeth: Johnny's sweetheart and now wife. Lizzie is a loyal friend to Cat. Her brother is Frank.
Johnny Smith/Fitzroy/ Lord Jonathan Fitzroy/ Captain Sparkler: The prompt at Theatre Royal until he leaves on exile to America. he has a secret profession as the rebel cartoonist Captain Sparkler.
Pedro: One of Cat's close friends, an African former slave and talented musician, also a member of Syd's gang. Pedro is very proud about his talent.
Mr Sheridan: Cat's patron and owner of Drury Lane Theater
Signor AngeliniPedro's master at the theater. Conductor of the theater orchestra, and very passionate about music, especially his apprentice Pedro.
Duke of Avon: Frank and Lizzie's father and duke of Avon.
Duchess of Avon/The Bristol Nightingale: Wife of the duke, and a retired singer. The Duchess is very informal and friendly to all.
Joseph: Frank's footman and friend to Cat.
Nick: Syd's right hand man and assistant leader of the butcher's boys.
Joe: A member of Syds gang. Also street card sharp.
Meat Pie Matt: Member of Billy's gang.
Ferret Face: Another member of Billy's gang.
Charles Hengrave: Franks friend.
Lord Fitzroy: Johnny's father, helps Cat out a difficult situation.
Books
- The Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury LaneThe Diamond of Drury Lane is a children's historical novel by Julia Golding which won the Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award in 2006. The book is set on 1 January 1790.-Plot:...
(2006) - Cat among the PigeonsCat among the Pigeons (Cat Royal)Cat among the Pigeons is a young adult novel by Julia Golding, published in 2006. It is a story about Pedro the slave's fight for freedom. The main character is Cat, a girl of around 12 who is Pedro's best friend.-Plot summary:...
(2006) - Den of ThievesDen of Thieves (novel)Den of Thieves is the third book in the "Cat Royal" series written by Julia Golding. In this story the protagonist, Cat, becomes homeless, travels to Paris, dances with an old French man and becomes a spy.-Plot:...
(2007) - Cat O'Nine TailsCat O'Nine Tails (Julia Golding novel)Cat O'Nine Tails is the fourth book in the "Cat Royal" series written by Julia Golding. In this story the protagonist, Cat, dances at a ball, dresses as a boy, and meets an Indian tribe.-Plot:...
(2007) - Black Heart of JamaicaBlack Heart of JamaicaBlack Heart of Jamaica is the fifth book in the "Cat Royal" series by British author Julia Golding. In this story the protagonist, Cat, becomes a pirate and gets involved with Pedro in a slave revolt.-Plot:...
(2008) - The Middle Passage (2010)
- Cat's CradleCat's Cradle (Cat Royal)Cat's Cradle is the 6th novel in the Cat Royal series by Julia Golding. It is a young adult, historical fiction book that continues to follow Cat on her adventures- travelling to Scotland to find her family, as Cat was abandoned as a baby on the doorstep of Drury Lane.- Plot Summary :Cat returns to...
(2011)