What do you think?
Rate this book
Animal Series
Rabbit
From Benjamin Bunny to Peter Cottontail, the Velveteen Rabbit to the Flopsy Bunnies, the Rabbit of Caerbannog to Bugs Bunny and Roger Rabbit, the winsome long-eared animal is a permanent fixture of our childhoods. We know rabbits for their place in our stories, myths, and legends, and also for how they helped us learn to tie our shoes. In this richly illustrated book, Victoria Dickenson explores the natural and cultural history of the most familiar of the lagomorphs.
Tracing the history of the species, Dickenson brings to life the giant extinct rabbits of Minorca and the tiny endangered Volcano rabbits of Mexico while focusing on the European rabbit. She explains how humans became this particular rabbit’s greatest predator, coveting its fur and flesh, and how they distributed rabbits to such far-flung places as New Zealand and Australia to provide food and sport for settlers. Dickenson also examines the paradox of the rabbit as prey and trickster who outwits all rivals, as cuddly companion for children and symbol of unbridled animal passion. She looks at the use of the rabbit’s foot to charm away evil, celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, and discovers the Jade Moon Rabbit, who lives on the moon. Hopping from B’rer Rabbit to the Energizer Bunny, Rabbit is the perfect gift for anyone who loves these intelligent, adorable creatures.
Tracing the history of the species, Dickenson brings to life the giant extinct rabbits of Minorca and the tiny endangered Volcano rabbits of Mexico while focusing on the European rabbit. She explains how humans became this particular rabbit’s greatest predator, coveting its fur and flesh, and how they distributed rabbits to such far-flung places as New Zealand and Australia to provide food and sport for settlers. Dickenson also examines the paradox of the rabbit as prey and trickster who outwits all rivals, as cuddly companion for children and symbol of unbridled animal passion. She looks at the use of the rabbit’s foot to charm away evil, celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, and discovers the Jade Moon Rabbit, who lives on the moon. Hopping from B’rer Rabbit to the Energizer Bunny, Rabbit is the perfect gift for anyone who loves these intelligent, adorable creatures.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryAnimals
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
98 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 18, 2018
Consider the rabbit.
Not a hare, but a rabbit. The animal we commonly view as wholly domesticated an esteem alongside cats and dogs. Consider its wide brown eyes, and the way that when chased it turns to finally face the predator. Consider the stare. Is there something there in it? Is there a consideration more human, or perhaps a consideration that simply makes us more rabbit? Like the hedgehog, the rabbit is a piece of the wilderness that we have accepted into our homes and our hearts, something that we can sit, nose to nose with, and try our very best to comprehend. The rabbit is a connection to wildness, to wilderness, and to our shared past.
Consider the rabbit.
I, myself, grew up alongside a rabbit. Nose to nose, I'd stare into his eyes and try to comprehend him. We were close-friends, and it was to him that I told my secrets, that I talked to endlessly. He'd hop on my back and flop there. He'd follow me, and I'd chase him. He'd rest on my lap while I pet him and hugged him. The rabbit is a paradox to us - both innocent and bawdy, clever and naive, cruel and caring. B'rer Rabbit and Bugs Bunny, Roger Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, Peter Rabbit and the Easter Bunny. The rabbit has suffused just about every aspect of our lives and yet we rarely think about him.
I think it's time we give him a second look, and look very hard. There's more in those eyes than one might think, and so much we could learn from it.
Not a hare, but a rabbit. The animal we commonly view as wholly domesticated an esteem alongside cats and dogs. Consider its wide brown eyes, and the way that when chased it turns to finally face the predator. Consider the stare. Is there something there in it? Is there a consideration more human, or perhaps a consideration that simply makes us more rabbit? Like the hedgehog, the rabbit is a piece of the wilderness that we have accepted into our homes and our hearts, something that we can sit, nose to nose with, and try our very best to comprehend. The rabbit is a connection to wildness, to wilderness, and to our shared past.
Consider the rabbit.
I, myself, grew up alongside a rabbit. Nose to nose, I'd stare into his eyes and try to comprehend him. We were close-friends, and it was to him that I told my secrets, that I talked to endlessly. He'd hop on my back and flop there. He'd follow me, and I'd chase him. He'd rest on my lap while I pet him and hugged him. The rabbit is a paradox to us - both innocent and bawdy, clever and naive, cruel and caring. B'rer Rabbit and Bugs Bunny, Roger Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, Peter Rabbit and the Easter Bunny. The rabbit has suffused just about every aspect of our lives and yet we rarely think about him.
I think it's time we give him a second look, and look very hard. There's more in those eyes than one might think, and so much we could learn from it.
March 12, 2023
a brilliant and easy read. highly recommend for anyone wanting an introduction about human-rabbit relations throughout history.
December 6, 2014
So packed full of facts in will make your head spin. It is a bit dark and disturbing at times. I had no idea how much rabbits have been involved in human evolution and society.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews