In his new book, British surrealist artist Richard Saunders weaves a spellbinding tale where childhood memories dance with supernatural magic.

Magic is rarely where we expect to find it. But what if it were growing in a garden hedge, lounging on a windowsill, or staring at us with knowing, feline eyes? In The Topiary Cat – Two Bushy Tales, author Richard Saunders invites his international fans and readers back into a world where reality and imagination entwine, where childhood memories shimmer with supernatural possibility, and where a Russian Blue cat may be the most heroic figure of all.

A semi-autobiographical novel in two parts, the book expands on a much-loved earlier story first released in 2021 in a smaller volume, which now returns as the prelude to an even richer and more intricate tapestry of memory and magic.

Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the book is a loving archaeological dig into a childhood that exists somewhere between reality and imagination, unearthing moments of wonder in the everyday of a bygone past of much simpler days.

Young Richard, soon to go to Grammar School, is no ordinary boy. Shy, creative, and more at ease with his Russian Blue cat Tolly than with most humans, he inhabits a world rich with possibility. His days are filled with the treasures and pleasures of childhood: Meccano sets take shape under his fingers, Dinky Toys find their perfect formations, and Sherbet Fountains tastes of nostalgia in a tube. Flying Saucers melt on his tongue like little, paper-thin edible memories.

The landscape of his world is shaped by two pivotal figures: his grandfather, a master gardener who tends the sprawling grounds of a nearby estate, and his mother, a busy artist whose absentminded nature grants Richard the freedom to dream and explore. It is through their eyes that the mundane transforms into the magical.

A Tale of Two Stories

In the first tale, Richard’s grandfather sculpts an exquisite topiary – a giant, living likeness of Tolly. But this is no ordinary garden trimming – the hedge-cat breathes, moves, and carries within it the spirit of Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection. Its eyes glow emerald green in the twilight garden, its massive hedge-form silently patrolling the grounds as real birds nestle comfortably in its leafy ears. It becomes both guardian and companion, and an integral part of young Richard’s world.

This is much more than a child’s fanciful story; it is an exploration of the profound connections between human and animal, the natural and the supernatural.

The second tale is longer and even more dramatic. Richard, now in Grammar School, is confronted with a scary threat: the harmony of his little world is disrupted by an ancient Egyptian god in human form, and his son, a menacing school bully. The battle that follows is one of wit, courage, and unseen forces at play. Richard, his mother, and his grandfather must unravel the mystery before it is too late, while the fearless Tolly steps into his most unexpected role yet.

At over 260 pages, the book is a literary journey into a lost era. Nostalgic yet timeless, whimsical yet profound, it is a portal to mid-century British life. Through it we step into a realm where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, where magic breathes just beneath the surface of everyday existence and where terrifying dangers, sad moments and humour entwine. Adorned with more than 80 colour illustrations, the book is also a visual feast where fantastical representations of supernatural encounters sit alongside vintage Bakelite phones and other cherished retro objects. Even Richard’s beloved classic car, a 1949 Triumph Roadster which he has owned for over 55 years and loving restored over 25 years, makes an appearance, being shoehorned in as transport for grandpa.

For those who lived through this era, the book will spark a thousand memories. For international readers, it offers an intimate glimpse into the beautiful peculiarities of English life, seen through the eyes of a child who understands that the most profound magic often goes unnoticed by adults.

Saunders weaves these narratives with the delicate touch of memory, blending adventure with a deep sense of time and place. The result is a book that breathes – just like the topiary itself – blurring the lines between history and myth, childhood and legend.

Who is Tolly? And Richard?

But who, exactly, are the protagonists? And why do their stories feel so deeply entwined?

Tolly really did exist; he was Richard Saunders’ actual beloved Russian Blue cat who passed away in 2016. His spirit, however, lives on as the fictional character. Following Tolly’s death, Richard began creating digital art featuring a topiary version of his cat – an artistic tribute that went viral online and developed into the character now known as The Topiary Cat.

The Topiary Cat embodies all of Tolly’s qualities. “Magnificent Me”, as he likes to style himself, continues to entertain his Facebook fans as a wise and courageous creature perpetually perplexed by human limitations. Immortal and unburdened by earthly constraints, this feline protagonist views human rituals like work, school, weekends, and telephones with bemused incomprehension… concepts as foreign to him as time itself.

Tolly’s spirit also continues to roam through the ever-evolving artistic imagination of Richard Saunders. The British artist, born in 1946, discovered surrealism in his teenage years, and it became a lifelong obsession. Mere skill, design and colour were never enough. There had to be some other element: Imagination. Although he paints on various mediums, he also loves photography and the digital arts. And his photographic compositions have grown increasingly intricate.

Each Topiary Cat scene begins with Richard’s original photography, which he then transforms by digitally weaving in The Immortal One as he roams through enchanted gardens, mist-laden moors, and moonlit estates. Some images demand days of meticulous crafting. But don’t even for a second entertain the idea that any of Richard’s artwork has ever been AI-generated – he insists that it is, and always has been, the product of his own imagination and his meticulous digital craftsmanship.

What makes “The Topiary Cat – Two Bushy Tales” so worth reading is its rare ability to transport readers of all ages – from nostalgic adults who remember the era to children discovering its magic for the first time – to a world where the boundary between reality and fantasy blurs. This book reminds us that magic is not something distant or impossible, but a whisper (or a whisker…) away – lingering at the edges of our world, waiting for those who dare to look, to wonder, and to believe.

Order information:

The Topiary Cat: Two Bushy Tales
ISBN 9781036902742
£16.95, tax included, + shipping/handling
Order here

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All images courtesy Richard Saunders