D'Maus Kätti: one of Luxembourg's best-known fables

Apart from Michel Rodange's Renert, D’Maus Kätti is arguably Luxembourg's best-known fable. A staple in children’s early education, the book is found in most Luxembourgish children's bedrooms.

D’Maus Kätti (literally meaning ‘the mouse called Kat’) was written by August Liesch, a prominent political, legal, and literary figure in late 19th to mid-20th century Luxembourg. Born in Mondorf in 1874, Liesch worked in various courts after completing a law degree before serving as MP from 1918 to 1921.

A member of the liberal party, he quit working for the government when it became dominated by members of the far-right. He was later appointed as head of Customs before becoming a member of the Council of State until 1945. Liesch died in 1949.

Despite his political career, Liesch was also a prolific writer, known for his satirical works and his use of Luxembourgish, French, and German. While Liesch also wrote a novel, most of his works were short stories, with D’Maus Kätti being the most successful.

The exact date of its composition remains unclear, but it was first published in 1936 and featured illustrations by Pierre Blanc, a fairly successful Luxembourgish painter. Since then, many editions have followed; however, to my knowledge, the book has never been translated into one of Luxembourg’s other common languages.

Liesch based his fable on Aesop's The town Mouse and The Country Mouse, a tale that had notably already been adapted by Horace and Jean de la Fontaine.The story follows Kätti, a simple country mouse from Burmerange, who is visited by her cousin Mim from the urban Clausen district of Luxembourg City.

Kätti is first depicted living a simple and happy life in the countryside. When her supposedly more sophisticated cousin, Mim, comes to visit, she is unimpressed by Kätti's home-cooked meals and frugal way of life. Mim manages to instil doubt in Kätti when she incessantly raves about the cakes and other delicacies they could eat in town.

Ultimately, Kätti accepts Mim's invitation to the city, even though it means leaving the safety of her home behind. Upon arriving in town, the two mice sneak into a house where they feast on all the foods Mim promised Kätti. However, their banquet is interrupted by two house cats who almost catch and eat them.

Kätti's joy comes to an abrupt end, and she is forced to confront the harsh realities of city life. Shaking in fear, Kätti decides to immediately return to her less exciting but much safer home in the countryside. Order is fully restored when Kätti marries the mouse Metti, and they lead a content life together in the countryside.

The story's lesson is clear: contentment with what you have, even if modest, is more valuable than the stress of pursuing a more luxurious life. The fable also critiques the city-dweller’s perceived superiority over rural life, highlighting that those in the countryside are often happier, less concerned with appearances or pretense.

While not Liesch’s own creation, D'Maus Kätti has become an integral part of Luxembourg's literary culture. Small memorials to the fable can be found across the country, including a sculpture in Mondorf, Liesch’s birthplace, depicting the mice’s interrupted feast.

Burmerange, Kätti's fictional hometown, also honours the mouse with a sculpture and a cultural centre named after her.
Kätti has even become a pop culture icon, with her own emoxie (Luxembourg's version of emojis).

For those interested in a reading, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa has shared a video of her reading D’Maus Kätti.

Thank you for tuning in! Now what are you waiting for – download and listen, on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.