I read this so long ago that I only remember bits and pieces of it's plot. But I do remember the excitement and tangy twist that the fantastical world felt like. And Mickle. I do remember Mickle. How delightful he was... ( )

Written when Joan Aiken was seventeen, this charming and light-hearted fantasy novel relates how the kingdom of Astalon was saved from the invading forces of the Under People through the efforts of young Prince Michael, Mickle the palace cat, the wise horse Minerva, and a host of other helpful animals.

An excellent book for young readers with a taste for anthropomorphic animal fantasy, The Kingdom and the Cave is an engaging story. I was delighted to discover that Aiken includes an intelligent rat named Professor Nicodemus in her story, and found myself wondering whether this was an inspiration for Robert C. O'Brien, whose own animal-fantasy novel for children, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, included an important rat character by that name...

As Aiken was born in 1924, this novel would have been written in 1941, although I believe that it first saw print in 1960, published by Abelard Schuman of London. O'Brien's book was first published in 1971, so it is possible that his choice was a tribute to Aiken. If not, it must rank as one of those happy cases of serendipitous synchronicity. ( )

One of my favorite books, from the early sixties. I repeatedly took it out of the library. I'm afraid to find a copy and re-read it today, for fear it will be a disapointment now.