Orlando (fictional cat)
Orlando (The Marmalade Cat) is the fictional eponymous hero of the series (of the same name) of 19 illustrated children's books written by Kathleen Hale between 1938 and 1972, issued by various publishers including "Country Life" and "Puffin Picture Books". The series involves a marmalade cat (most likely a ginger tabby) named Orlando, and his adventures with his family and wife named Grace. Background. The "Orlando (The Marmalade Cat)" books were created by Kathleen Hale for her two children, and Orlando was inspired by their real-life cat Orlando. When "Country Life" first published "Orlando (the  Marmalade Cat): A Camping Holiday", it became an instant success. Kathleen Hale then continued the series, giving Orlando a magic carpet in 1958, and ended the series with "Orlando and the Water Cats" (1972). Plot. Orlando's family consist of his wife Grace, and three kittens: Blanche (white), Pansy (tortoiseshell) and Tinkle (black). The family, especially Orlando, get involved in many adventures together and make friends as they do so. They can range from going to the moon ("Orlando Goes to the Moon"), becoming a replacement judge ("Orlando the Judge") or to keeping a large black poodle dog ("Orlando (the  Marmalade Cat): Keeps a Dog). Characters. There are many characters in the Orlando series, many of them minor. Some of the minor characters reappear in different books in the series (for example Mr. Cattermole), while others appear once. Books. Books in the series are: Legacy. In 1994, a stamp featuring Orlando the Marmalade Cat was released. A one-penny stamp, it shows Orlando writing what is possibly a letter with a quill. The foreground shows green wallpaper.