MOLLY LEFEBURE X WAINRIGHT
A fascinating collaboration between two renowned admirers of the Lake District produced a distinctive and enduring work of mountaineering fiction. The result is an unusual and entertaining story, enriched with charming pen-and-ink illustrations.
A timeless adventure tale suitable for a wide audience.
For readers nostalgic for the golden age of climbing literature, Molly Lefebure’s Scratch & Co.: The Great Cat Expedition remains available today. Written as a whimsical fantasy adventure, the book playfully satirizes the real-life expedition narratives that dominated the early to mid-20th century. It draws inspiration from iconic accounts such as H. W. Tilman’s The Ascent of Nanda Devi, Maurice Herzog’s Annapurna, and Eric Shipton’s Everest 1951, all of which documented an era defined by groundbreaking first ascents of the world’s highest peaks.
Lefebure’s novel humorously reflects this heroic period, much like W. E. Bowman’s The Ascent of Rum Doodle (1956), offering a similarly sharp and entertaining parody. Published across several countries—including the UK, France (as L’extravagante Expédition Beauminet), and the United States, where it featured illustrations by Charles Geer—the book has earned a loyal following. Despite this, it remains relatively scarce, with fewer than 3,500 copies believed to exist, making it a hidden gem among Wainwright-associated works and a title ripe for rediscovery.
Beyond its engaging narrative, the book cleverly mimics the tone and structure of traditional expedition writing. Readers will encounter familiar elements such as eccentric expedition members, perilous situations, dramatic rescues, and the often grandiose style typical of Himalayan accounts.
The story recounts the first ascent of the H.K.P.—the “Highest Known Peak in Catdom,” a playful stand-in for Scafell Pike. First published in 1968 by Victor Gollancz and illustrated by celebrated Lakeland guidebook author Alfred Wainwright, the book has steadily gained admiration among outdoor enthusiasts. Climbers, fell walkers, Wainwright admirers, and lovers of the Lake District continue to appreciate its unique blend of humor, adventure, and literary charm.
The story carries a gentle echo of the tales of Beatrix Potter, with characters that behave like people while still retaining their distinctly animal traits—a balance Molly Lefebure achieves with remarkable subtlety. This approach enhances the satirical tone of the narrative, which follows an expedition organised by the National Feline Geographical Society. At its centre is Scratch Sharp and a lively cast that includes climbing cats, determined terrier sherpas working at high altitude, anxious rabbit porters in the lower reaches, and their unpredictable rivals, the foxes.
The book’s charm lies in its vividly drawn personalities. Among Scratch’s companions are the somewhat pompous expedition leader, Brigadier Sir Hywel Catterwaul; the thoughtful geologist Tybault Brightstone; the meticulous Dr. Thomas Black; Oliver Simpkin, the youngest and most inexperienced member; the ever-hungry Tibs Brightstone; and Wee Hamish McCall, a terrier with a formidable mountaineering reputation. Adding further colour are Manx Scoop and Whiskey Bylines, intrepid journalists from the feline press, along with Scoop’s fiercely loyal mongoose assistant. Opposing them is Red Rowan Lightfoot, leading a clever and resourceful band of foxes.
Blending humour with moments of tension, the narrative moves between lighthearted satire and genuine peril. While rivalries and teasing arise both within the feline group and across species, cooperation ultimately prevails when challenges intensify. Encounters with the foxes, sudden storms, and treacherous mountain conditions create real stakes, leaving survival uncertain at times. Even so, the expedition presses on toward H.K.P., despite distractions such as the characters’ fondness for indulgent refreshments.
Lefebure’s writing deftly mixes comedy with touches of the surreal. Unexpected moments—like an accidental attempt to brew socks in a teapot or a butterfly offering an oddly booming reply to a simple question—add a whimsical layer that keeps the tone playful and unpredictable.
Although set in the fictional “Kingdom of Catdom,” the landscape strongly reflects the character of the Lake District. Familiar readers will recognise echoes of real terrain, as well as hints of personalities inspired by the world of mountaineering. The dialogue and behaviour of both locals and visiting climbers feel authentic, suggesting deep knowledge of mountain culture. Altogether, it’s a richly imagined and insightful work shaped by a clear understanding of both the environment and the people drawn to it.
Selecting the illustrator proved straightforward. Alfred Wainright had long been close friends with Molly Lefebure, united by their shared enthusiasm for mountaineering, the Lake District, and a mutual fondness for cats. Their friendship began through correspondence after Molly contacted him about a small mistake in one of his guidebooks, and it quickly grew from there.
When invited to illustrate Scratch & Co., Wainright was immediately keen—at least until one particular character gave him pause. While he felt entirely confident sketching cats, the inclusion of a mongoose presented an unexpected challenge. As he reportedly joked, he had never even seen one before. The problem was solved thanks to a preserved specimen at Kendal Museum, where he was working as Curator at the time. After spending a few days studying it closely, he was satisfied he could do the creature justice.
With the manuscript and illustrations finished, attention turned to naming the book and designing its cover—details that had not yet been finalised. Two titles were considered: Scratch and Co. and Red Rowan’s Paw of Friendship. The latter was ultimately set aside, making way for The Great Cat Expedition, a choice that gave the book a strong and memorable identity. The final design featured a striking orange cover prominently displaying the names of both contributors, ensuring it stood out.
It’s also worth noting that Wainright’s involvement stemmed entirely from his friendship with Molly. He created the artwork without charge, reflecting both his generosity and the importance he placed on their relationship. In keeping with this spirit, he declined any royalties from the book, requesting instead that his share be donated to a local charitable cause.
I would like to acknowledge and extend great thanks to Matthew Entwistle for the work he did to make this page possible and his commitment to insuring that Scratch & Co was republished and subsequently could be enjoyed by a much wider audience. He has also published and written other books about some of the Lake District’s most intriguing charcaters: Milican Dalton, A Search for Romance and Freedom and Skiddaw Hermit The Struggles-of George Smith both are available at his Amazon Store
If you would like to purchase a copy of Scratch and Co, please click the Amazon link below:
SCRATCH & Co.
The Great Cat Expedition
Molly Lefebure & A. Wainwright
£11.99 + P&P
ISBN-13: 978-0-9547213-1-2
New edition - Published 2 September 2006
Case bound laminated hardcover
13.7 x 1.8 x 20.4 cm - 341 grams
160 pages
45850 words
14 black & white Alfred Wainwright line drawings
English language