Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat facts for kids
The 1992 edition, published by Angstrem.
|
|
| Author | Eduard Uspensky |
|---|---|
| Original title | Дядя Фёдор, пёс и кот |
| Translator | Michael Henry Heim |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
| Series | The Stories from Prostokvashino |
| Genre | a novella |
| Set in | Soviet Union |
|
Publication date
|
1974 |
|
Published in English
|
1993 |
| Pages | 112 |
| Followed by | Uncle Fyodor's Aunt (1994) |
Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat (Russian: Дядя Фёдор, пёс и кот, lit. '"Uncle Fyodor, The Dog and The Cat"') is a fun children's story written by Eduard Uspensky. It was first published in 1974. This book is the first in a series about a make-believe village called Prostokvashino. The name Prostokvashino means "soured milk" in Russian.
The stories are about a city boy named Fyodor, also called Fedya. He becomes friends with talking animals. They have many adventures in Prostokvashino. They also meet other people who live there, like the grumpy postman Pechkin. In 1993, the book was translated into English by Michael Henry Heim. Vladimir Shpitalnik drew the pictures for this edition.
The Story of Uncle Fedya
Fyodor lives in an apartment with his parents. They call him "Uncle" because he is very serious and smart for his age. He learned to read when he was four. By age six, he could cook for himself! Unlike his mother, Fyodor really loves animals.
One day, he meets a stray talking cat. The cat used to live in an attic, but now his house is being fixed. Fyodor wants to keep the cat, but his mother says no. So, Fyodor decides to run away with the cat.
The next day, they leave a note for Fyodor's parents. They take a bus to the countryside. Fyodor names the cat Matroskin. They arrive in Prostokvashino village and find an empty house to live in. A talking dog named Sharik promises to guard their new home. So, they all start living together.
New Friends and Subscriptions
The next day, they go swimming. On their way back, they meet Pechkin the Postmaster. He is very curious. Pechkin insists they should subscribe to something. Fyodor chooses a magazine called Murzilka. Sharik wants a magazine about hunting. Matroskin politely says no, because he wants to save money.
Fyodor's parents miss him a lot. They start looking for him and put an ad in the newspaper. Meanwhile, Matroskin decides they need a cow. But they don't have any money.
Finding Treasure and New Purchases
Fyodor suggests they look for a hidden treasure in the forest. They walk to the forest and find a hill with a cave. Fyodor starts digging nearby. He really does find a chest full of money and jewels!
They all decide to buy presents for themselves. Sharik wants a gun for hunting and a dog collar. Matroskin still wants a cow. He plans to "borrow" one from a local service to try it out first. Fyodor wants a bike, but his friends convince him to get a tractor instead. They say a tractor is much more useful.
Fyodor sends a letter to a tractor factory. He includes 100 rubles. He asks for a small tractor that uses little gas and runs fast. In return, Fyodor gets a special tractor model called "Mitya." It's an experimental 20-hp tractor. The funny thing is, it uses food for fuel, not gasoline! But "Mitya" stops at every house if it smells food. So, Matroskin has to hold a sausage on a fishing rod in front of it to make it move.
Life in Prostokvashino
The people in Prostokvashino start to like Uncle Fyodor. He is hard-working and kind to animals. Villagers bring him stray and sick animals. They even adopt a gloomy little jackdaw named Jack Grabbit.
Fyodor learns from Pechkin that his parents are worried. He decides to write them a letter. He starts by saying his life in Prostokvashino is great. But then he stops writing to play with some children. Matroskin and Sharik finish the letter. They add their own details, like "my paws ache sometimes" and "I have so much warm milk." Matroskin also writes, "I don't even want to look at mice. I simply catch them for amusement." Sharik adds, "I started moulting the other day."
When Fyodor's parents get this strange letter, they panic. They see "Prostokvashino" on the postmark. They send letters to every Prostokvashino village they can find on a map. Finally, they get a reply from Pechkin.
Sharik's New Hobby and Murka's Family
Meanwhile, Sharik buys a gun and goes hunting. He almost drowns but is saved by an annoyed beaver. Sharik feels very ashamed. He was saved by the very animals he wanted to hunt! So, he decides to go fishing instead. But Sharik gets sad because he can't satisfy his hunting desire with a gun. Fyodor gives him a camera gun for wildlife photography.
Matroskin's cow, Murka, gives birth to a black calf named Gavryusha. Murka is a popular name for a female cat, but it means "purring cat." Gavryusha is a short name for Gavriil.
Summer ends, and everyone is busy. Sharik spends his time in the forest taking pictures. Matroskin trains Gavryusha in obedience. He teaches Gavryusha to play fetch and guard the house like a watch dog.
A Visit from Parents
Uncle Fyodor catches a bad cold. Matroskin and Sharik can't help him get better. Suddenly, Fyodor's parents arrive! His mother takes care of him with Matroskin's help. His father and Sharik take the tractor "Mitya" to the city to buy antibiotics.
Fyodor is still very sick and needs to go back to the city. Fyodor's mother is very impressed with Matroskin's skills and intelligence. She invites him and Sharik to live in their apartment. But the cat and dog don't want to leave Murka and Gavryusha. Matroskin suggests that Fyodor should visit them during school holidays and on weekends.
Other Books in the Series
Film Adaptations
The story of Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat has been made into animated films.
Studio Ekran's Film Series
Studio Ekran made three short animated films based on the book. They were called Matroskin and Sharik (1975), Mitya and Murka (1976), and Mom and Dad (1976). Yury Klepatsky and Lidia Surikova directed these films. Anatoly Bykanov composed the music. These films are not as well-known today as the ones made by Soyuzmultfilm.
Soyuzmultfilm's Film Series
Soyuzmultfilm also made three popular films set in Prostokvashino. All were directed by Vladimir Popov.
- The first film, The Three from Prostokvashino (1978), is based on the book.
- The other two films, School Holidays in Prostokvashino (1980) and Winter in Prostokvashino (1984), have new stories written by Eduard Uspensky. He later used some of these plots in his other Prostokvashino books.
All three films were very popular in the Soviet Union. People liked how "real" the characters and situations felt. They were enjoyed by both kids and adults. Oleg Tabakov's voice acting as Matroskin the Cat became especially famous.
Main Characters
Fedya
Uncle Fyodor (Russian: Дядя Фёдор) is the main character. His short name is Fedya. At the start of the first book, he lives in the city with his parents, Dima and Rimma. He loves animals and often brings stray animals home. His mother usually doesn't let him keep them. After an argument with his parents, he decides to leave home. By the end of Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat, Fyodor's mother starts to like Matroskin the Cat.
Maria Vinogradova voiced Uncle Fyodor in Soyuzmultfilm's series. His hair is blond in Ekran's films and red in Soyuzmultfilm's films.
Matroskin the Cat
Matroskin the Cat (Russian: Кот Матроскин) is a cat who acts like a human. His name means "seaman." He is very careful with money and always thinks logically. He used to live with a professor who studied animal language. From Professor Syomin, Matroskin learned to understand and speak human language. He also learned to read, write, and count.
Matroskin becomes the housekeeper and farmer in Uncle Fyodor's home. He has many skills, like accounting, cooking, sewing, singing, and playing the guitar. He takes care of their home economics. He calls "Matroskin" his "surname." He likes to tease Sharik but is generally kind to him. However, he often gets annoyed by Sharik's "uselessness." Svetlana Kharlap voiced Matroskin in Ekran's films. Oleg Tabakov voiced him in Soyuzmultfilm's series.
Sharik
Sharik (Russian: Шарик) is a dog who acts like a human. His name means "small balloon." He is a kind stray dog who lived in the village before meeting Uncle Fyodor. He learned to speak from the same professor who taught Matroskin. Sharik learned to speak while guarding Professor Syomin's country house. The professor was writing a "Sighthound Dictionary."
Matroskin is often disappointed because Sharik doesn't have many useful skills. Sharik admits he can only wash dishes by "licking" them. But Sharik follows the rules. He has a passport, unlike Matroskin, who says his paws and tail are his ID. Lev Durov voiced Sharik in Soyuzmultfilm's series.
Pechkin the Postmaster
Pechkin (Russian: Печкин), or Igor Ivanovich Pechkin, is the postman in Prostokvashino. His name comes from the Russian word for "oven." He is a middle-aged man who wears a hat. He is extremely nosy and believes he has the right to know everything happening in the village. Pechkin is a funny character. The animals often outsmart him. Boris Novikov voiced Pechkin in Soyuzmultfilm's series.
Jack Grabbit
Jack Grabbit (Russian: Хватайка) is a small, thieving jackdaw. His name comes from a Russian word meaning "to snatch" or "to grab." He snatches anything that catches his eye. He hides his "treasures" in the cupboard. Then he fiercely protects them, which is annoying for Fyodor and his friends.
Matroskin tries to teach him human language. Jack Grabbit only learns one phrase: "Who's there?" Matroskin thinks this is a success. He believes a question asked at the door could scare away burglars. But this idea backfires. One day, Pechkin comes to the house when no one is home. Pechkin announces, "This is Pechkin the Postmaster, I've brought your Murzilka magazine." Jack Grabbit keeps asking, "Who's there?" This goes on for a long time. Pechkin gets very upset. Afterwards, Uncle Fyodor has to give him tea and candies to calm him down. Zinaida Naryshkina voiced Jack Grabbit in Soyuzmultfilm's series.
Murka
Murka (Russian: Мурка) is a red cow. Her name is a common female cat's name, meaning "purry." Matroskin misses milk and decides to buy a cow. He brings Murka home from the service bureau. Sharik is amazed when she eats all the curtains and potted flowers in their house! Fyodor eventually has to chain her up.
Murka is a bit silly and spoiled, but she gives a lot of milk. Matroskin gets so much milk that he fills every bucket, jar, and even the fish tank with it. When soured milk starts leaking from the tap, he decides to buy a calf. But it turns out to be unnecessary because Murka gives birth to a black calf. They name him Gavryusha. At the end of the book, Murka reveals she can also speak human language. When Matroskin asks why she didn't talk before, she replies, "To you? What for?"
