The world knows Julia Child as the charismatic woman who brought French cuisine to America and became a TV sensation, but there�s one aspect of her life that�s not so familiar. Soon after the Childs arrived in Paris in 1948, a French cat appeared on their doorstep, and Julia recalled, �Our domestic circle was completed.� Minette captured Julia�s heart, igniting a lifelong passion for cats equaled only by her love of food and her husband, Paul. All the cherished feline companions who shared Julia�s life�in Paris, Provence, and finally California�reminded her of that magical time in Paris when her life changed forever. From Julia�s and Paul�s letters and original interviews with those who knew her best, Patricia Barey and Therese Burson have gathered fresh stories and images that offer a delightfully intimate view of a beloved icon.