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This is a slightly strange book. It's history, disguised as the diary of a slave-cat in Ancient Rome, and full of groanworthy puns. As I read it, I found myself unsure, at times, whether it was really very clever, or just irritatingly silly. It somehow managed to be both. The blurb on the back describes it as a 'witty Roman romp', which is exactly what it is. It's Ancient Rome - approximately - in a universe where cats rather than humans are in charge. Indeed, humans don't seem to exist at all, although other animals and some birds feature in the book. There's plenty of romping, and it's certainly witty.

Spartapuss, who is a cat slave (though quite a superior one) narrates the book in diary form. He is in charge of the 'spatopia', a kind of Roman spa. He is treated reasonably well by the owner Clawdius, who's related to the Emperor Tiberius. His worst problem is ensuring that there is no slanderous graffiti on the walls.

One day the emperor is due to make a visit, so everyone makes a massive effort to prepare a suitable banquet. At the last moment, Spartapuss learns that the emperor is away; instead , they will be entertaining his grandson Catligula, who is not popular at all. Disaster strikes when Catligula eats too much too fast; then Spartapuss is arrested on grounds of poisoning...

For more light-hearted history, you might like [[The Comic Strip History of the World by Sally Kindberg and Tracey Turner]]. You might also enjoy [[You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece! by Fiona MacDonald and David Antram]].