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The Fox and the Hound
This classic, award-winning novel and the basis for the animated Disney movie is "a masterpiece, it is tops in the field of animal books" (Omaha World-Herald).
Winner of the Dutton Animal Book Award
Winner of the Athenaeum Literary Award
Reader's Digest Book Club
Two animals on opposites sides of the hunt—one a loyal, domesticated companion, the other a wily, solitary trickster. Copper is a large bloodhound mix, prized for his scenting ability. He longs for the thrill of the chase and for his human's praise. Yet he could lose his place in the pack to any of the younger, faster dogs around him . . .
Tod the fox is familiar with the ways of men and hounds; he had been raised by and lived among them as a pup—but not for long. Instinct drives him back into the wilderness, where he learns to spring the traps set for him, catch the attention of vixens, and survive the seasons.
In the natural order of things, Copper and Tod are enemies, but it's the changing world around them that could prove to be the greatest threat of all . . .
"No one who has the slightest interest in animals should miss reading The Fox and the Hound." —The Plain Dealer
"A lively and engrossing animal book . . . a really exciting story." —Associated Press
"A story of a hunt told in a way it seldom is, completely from the viewpoint of the animals. . . . It is wonderful how Mannix has entered so completely into the animals' way of looking at life." —Publishers Weekly
Winner of the Dutton Animal Book Award
Winner of the Athenaeum Literary Award
Reader's Digest Book Club
Two animals on opposites sides of the hunt—one a loyal, domesticated companion, the other a wily, solitary trickster. Copper is a large bloodhound mix, prized for his scenting ability. He longs for the thrill of the chase and for his human's praise. Yet he could lose his place in the pack to any of the younger, faster dogs around him . . .
Tod the fox is familiar with the ways of men and hounds; he had been raised by and lived among them as a pup—but not for long. Instinct drives him back into the wilderness, where he learns to spring the traps set for him, catch the attention of vixens, and survive the seasons.
In the natural order of things, Copper and Tod are enemies, but it's the changing world around them that could prove to be the greatest threat of all . . .
"No one who has the slightest interest in animals should miss reading The Fox and the Hound." —The Plain Dealer
"A lively and engrossing animal book . . . a really exciting story." —Associated Press
"A story of a hunt told in a way it seldom is, completely from the viewpoint of the animals. . . . It is wonderful how Mannix has entered so completely into the animals' way of looking at life." —Publishers Weekly
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 1967
141 people are currently reading
4470 people want to read
About the author
Daniel P. Mannix
44 books63 followersDaniel Pratt Mannix IV was best known as an American author and journalist. His life was remarkably different from other writers of his generation. His career included times as a side show performer, magician, trainer of eagles and film maker.
The Grest Zadma was a stage name Mannix used as a magician. He also entertained as a sword swallower and fire eater in a traveling carnival sideshow. Magazine articles about these experiences, co-written with his wife, became very popular in 1944 and 1945.
As an author Mannix covered a wide variety of subject matter. His more than 25 books ranged from fictional animal stories for children, the natural history of animals, and adventurous accounts about hunting big game to sensational adult non-fiction topics such as a biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, sympathetic accounts of carnival performers and sideshow freaks, and works describing, among other things, the Hellfire Club, the Atlantic slave trade, the history of torture, and the Roman games. His output of essays and articles was extensive.
The Grest Zadma was a stage name Mannix used as a magician. He also entertained as a sword swallower and fire eater in a traveling carnival sideshow. Magazine articles about these experiences, co-written with his wife, became very popular in 1944 and 1945.
As an author Mannix covered a wide variety of subject matter. His more than 25 books ranged from fictional animal stories for children, the natural history of animals, and adventurous accounts about hunting big game to sensational adult non-fiction topics such as a biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, sympathetic accounts of carnival performers and sideshow freaks, and works describing, among other things, the Hellfire Club, the Atlantic slave trade, the history of torture, and the Roman games. His output of essays and articles was extensive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
August 5, 2018
#I’M A CRYING DISASTER
BEWARE: This is NOT a disney story.
So I'm gonna use gifs cause after reading this novel I think I deserve a little bit of happinness.
This is the story about a fox named Tod
And a hound called Copper
Tod is a red fox kit, raised as a pet by one of the human hunters who killed his mother and litter mates.
Copper, a bloodhound crossbred, was once the favorite among his Master's pack of hunting dogs in a rural country area. However, he now feels threatened by Chief, a younger, faster Black and Tan Coonhound.
Tod initially enjoys his life, but when he reaches sexual maturity he returns to the wild.
One day, Tod comes across the Master's house and discovers that his presence sends the chained pack of dogs into a frustrated frenzy. He begins to delight in taunting them until one day Chief breaks his chain and chases him, Tod flees along a railroad track while a train is approaching and Chief is killed by the train.
This is the part where things start to get ugly.
That's it.
That's the ending.
There's no epilogue.
I love this book. I love it, but there's not version of reality where this have a happy ending.
BEWARE: This is NOT a disney story.
So I'm gonna use gifs cause after reading this novel I think I deserve a little bit of happinness.
This is the story about a fox named Tod
And a hound called Copper
Tod is a red fox kit, raised as a pet by one of the human hunters who killed his mother and litter mates.
Copper, a bloodhound crossbred, was once the favorite among his Master's pack of hunting dogs in a rural country area. However, he now feels threatened by Chief, a younger, faster Black and Tan Coonhound.
Tod initially enjoys his life, but when he reaches sexual maturity he returns to the wild.
One day, Tod comes across the Master's house and discovers that his presence sends the chained pack of dogs into a frustrated frenzy. He begins to delight in taunting them until one day Chief breaks his chain and chases him, Tod flees along a railroad track while a train is approaching and Chief is killed by the train.
This is the part where things start to get ugly.
That's it.
That's the ending.
There's no epilogue.
I love this book. I love it, but there's not version of reality where this have a happy ending.
July 19, 2017
This is the book the disney classic is based on but you got to hand to the House of Mouse, no one mangles a story like they do in the name of family entertainement.
Whereas the film is a story of friendship that survives depite circumstances in a way almost reminiscent of Romeo and Juliette, the book is more about the daily struggles of a fox and a dog (and up to a certain point the Master) in a world that changes around their ears in which they don't quite fit.
I only recall the Dysney movie very vaguely (last time I saw it I must have been all of 6 years old). I probably know more about the movie because of the wikipedia synopsis I read than from I can remember. I have vague recollections that it was a pretty sad movie but I actually chocked up reading this book. Heck, I almost cried just giving my wife a summary of the book (and she actualy cried just hearing it). So don't be an idiot like I was and read the last two chapters in a crowded restaurant where you have fight back tears so you won't look like a wuss in public.
Whereas the film is a story of friendship that survives depite circumstances in a way almost reminiscent of Romeo and Juliette, the book is more about the daily struggles of a fox and a dog (and up to a certain point the Master) in a world that changes around their ears in which they don't quite fit.
I only recall the Dysney movie very vaguely (last time I saw it I must have been all of 6 years old). I probably know more about the movie because of the wikipedia synopsis I read than from I can remember. I have vague recollections that it was a pretty sad movie but I actually chocked up reading this book. Heck, I almost cried just giving my wife a summary of the book (and she actualy cried just hearing it). So don't be an idiot like I was and read the last two chapters in a crowded restaurant where you have fight back tears so you won't look like a wuss in public.
November 24, 2014
Did you know this was a book? Me neither! It bears very little resemblance to the Disney movie (which is also one of my all-time favorites - it's actually kind of funny seeing how they pieced various parts together out of order/context to create said film). But even so, it is its own kind of incredible animal story, and fully deserving of its award.
January 23, 2012
The life of a red fox over the years as he survives hunters, trappings, hounds, human encroachment, drought, and the hound who’s hunting him.
The story takes places from two points of view: Tod the fox, and Copper the hound. The hunted and the hunter. The book starts with the hunting dog, Copper, as he and his master are enlisted by the police to find a missing man. Copper doesn’t know this, only that he is to track a scent. At the end is a dead body, and the scent of bear. Shortly afterwards, Copper and his pack are enlisted to track down the killer bear, and this leads to a fight to the death. The master is maimed, but Chief, the old dog who is currently alpha, grabs the bear by the balls (literally) and pulls it off the master, giving him time to shoot the bear.
The story then picks up with a family of foxes. A group of hunters finds the den, the mother is only able to save one of her pups and is then ripped apart by a pack of hunting dogs.
This is not a children’s book.
The fox pup (named Tod) is raised by compassionate humans. Eventually he starts feeling his oats and runs off after the scent of a female in heat. Now the fox lives in the country on his own. He comes across Copper and Chief’s pack. Chief breaks off his leash and chases the fox. Unable to shake the dog, Tod leads Chief across the railroad tracks just as he feels a train approaching. The train kills Chief, and from then on Copper’s master wants Tod dead.
For the rest of the book, Tod is hunted and chased, his family is murdered twice, and the hunter tries to trap him, but he survives. Copper is eager to accompany his master on the hunt, but it’s not out of vengeance. It’s not a vendetta that consumes his life. From Copper’s point of view, he simply enjoys being with his master, being useful to him. This is farm country, and foxes are a nuisance in general, so the master is called upon to exterminate the fox population. Copper is eager to help hunt and kill because it means he gets to be useful, earn his master’s favor, make him happy by tracking scents and finding prey. It’s his entire world.
Over the course of his life, Tod loses all his children and both mates to the hunters. Meanwhile the world changes. The farm country is developed and suburbs take over. Through it all, with his wit and ability to learn from successes and failures (both in himself and those around him), Tod survives. He lives on the razor edge of his senses, and using those senses to survive the dangers around him is satisfying. It’s his entire world.
The story is difficult to read in many places because it’s so densely packed with expressions that don’t connect with anything visual. Such as: “own the line” (finding the scent). “Give tongue” (hounds sounding off). “Windfall” (fruit that’s fallen from trees). “Hounds in check” (hounds sniffing around trying to find the scent again). These phrases are strange and didn’t help me visualize what was happening.
There are very long, dense passages that frequently use expressions like these instead of describing what’s going on and where we are. Nothing much happens. It’s all narration that just plods on and on without much relevance to the story. Then, finally, something starts happening, visuals lock in place again and the story becomes exciting!
The most interesting thing about the book is the animals don’t talk. They don’t reason. They don’t communicate. They are natural, wild animals. Only the omniscient narrator weaves their thought processes into something humans can understand. We see the world the way Tod and Copper see it, in monochrome shades colored with pure scent. We get to know how they think, and see the chain of logic that leads them to conclusions an animal would come to.
Copper just wants to make his master happy. He feels no vengeance for Chief’s death, or hatred for his prey. Scenting prey makes him useful to his master, catching prey makes his master happy, and he does it to bond with him. He enjoys being with his master. Tod, however, just wants to survive. He doesn’t kill Chief out of anger or spite. He doesn’t really comprehend that his actions led to the old dog’s death. He was just running for his life and saw an opportunity to get the dog off his trail. There’s no anger on his part for years of being chased, watching his family killed, as well as his entire world destroyed. Neither he nor Copper hold a grudge against the other. They can’t because they are animals. They don’t comprehend such things, and the book shows this very well.
The ending is... Wow... It’s quite depressing because it just ends. There’s no moral, no reason for any of this to happen. It’s a tale of animal perspective. It presents an animal’s motivation from the animal’s point of view, showing us: this is how they live. This is how they see the world. This is how they learn, how they adapt, how they deal with these problems. This is how the bloodhound sees the hunt. This is how the fox sees the hunt. Completely in animal terms. It’s an insightful look into the world and thought processes of animals.
I did a book/movie comparison on my blog. Check it out.
The story takes places from two points of view: Tod the fox, and Copper the hound. The hunted and the hunter. The book starts with the hunting dog, Copper, as he and his master are enlisted by the police to find a missing man. Copper doesn’t know this, only that he is to track a scent. At the end is a dead body, and the scent of bear. Shortly afterwards, Copper and his pack are enlisted to track down the killer bear, and this leads to a fight to the death. The master is maimed, but Chief, the old dog who is currently alpha, grabs the bear by the balls (literally) and pulls it off the master, giving him time to shoot the bear.
The story then picks up with a family of foxes. A group of hunters finds the den, the mother is only able to save one of her pups and is then ripped apart by a pack of hunting dogs.
This is not a children’s book.
The fox pup (named Tod) is raised by compassionate humans. Eventually he starts feeling his oats and runs off after the scent of a female in heat. Now the fox lives in the country on his own. He comes across Copper and Chief’s pack. Chief breaks off his leash and chases the fox. Unable to shake the dog, Tod leads Chief across the railroad tracks just as he feels a train approaching. The train kills Chief, and from then on Copper’s master wants Tod dead.
For the rest of the book, Tod is hunted and chased, his family is murdered twice, and the hunter tries to trap him, but he survives. Copper is eager to accompany his master on the hunt, but it’s not out of vengeance. It’s not a vendetta that consumes his life. From Copper’s point of view, he simply enjoys being with his master, being useful to him. This is farm country, and foxes are a nuisance in general, so the master is called upon to exterminate the fox population. Copper is eager to help hunt and kill because it means he gets to be useful, earn his master’s favor, make him happy by tracking scents and finding prey. It’s his entire world.
Over the course of his life, Tod loses all his children and both mates to the hunters. Meanwhile the world changes. The farm country is developed and suburbs take over. Through it all, with his wit and ability to learn from successes and failures (both in himself and those around him), Tod survives. He lives on the razor edge of his senses, and using those senses to survive the dangers around him is satisfying. It’s his entire world.
The story is difficult to read in many places because it’s so densely packed with expressions that don’t connect with anything visual. Such as: “own the line” (finding the scent). “Give tongue” (hounds sounding off). “Windfall” (fruit that’s fallen from trees). “Hounds in check” (hounds sniffing around trying to find the scent again). These phrases are strange and didn’t help me visualize what was happening.
There are very long, dense passages that frequently use expressions like these instead of describing what’s going on and where we are. Nothing much happens. It’s all narration that just plods on and on without much relevance to the story. Then, finally, something starts happening, visuals lock in place again and the story becomes exciting!
The most interesting thing about the book is the animals don’t talk. They don’t reason. They don’t communicate. They are natural, wild animals. Only the omniscient narrator weaves their thought processes into something humans can understand. We see the world the way Tod and Copper see it, in monochrome shades colored with pure scent. We get to know how they think, and see the chain of logic that leads them to conclusions an animal would come to.
Copper just wants to make his master happy. He feels no vengeance for Chief’s death, or hatred for his prey. Scenting prey makes him useful to his master, catching prey makes his master happy, and he does it to bond with him. He enjoys being with his master. Tod, however, just wants to survive. He doesn’t kill Chief out of anger or spite. He doesn’t really comprehend that his actions led to the old dog’s death. He was just running for his life and saw an opportunity to get the dog off his trail. There’s no anger on his part for years of being chased, watching his family killed, as well as his entire world destroyed. Neither he nor Copper hold a grudge against the other. They can’t because they are animals. They don’t comprehend such things, and the book shows this very well.
The ending is... Wow... It’s quite depressing because it just ends. There’s no moral, no reason for any of this to happen. It’s a tale of animal perspective. It presents an animal’s motivation from the animal’s point of view, showing us: this is how they live. This is how they see the world. This is how they learn, how they adapt, how they deal with these problems. This is how the bloodhound sees the hunt. This is how the fox sees the hunt. Completely in animal terms. It’s an insightful look into the world and thought processes of animals.
I did a book/movie comparison on my blog. Check it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2018
Very easily the best xenofiction novel I've ever read. If you're expecting a paper version of the cutesy, anthropomorphic Tod and Copper from the Disney movie of the same name, you're in for a surprise. This is an authentic and detailed account of two animals who act and think like real wild animals. They learn only from what they can see and smell. They communicate without words. They live and hunt and mate and reason like an animal would.
Can we ever really know what takes place in an animal's mind? Of course not. But from reading the author's afterword and knowing the research that went into this story, I believe this is about as accurate as we'll get.
The Fox and the Hound is less of a story and more of a journey. Yes, parts of the journey are slow and dense, but the writing is so skilled, the payoff so intense, the action scenes so gripping, and the ending so heartbreaking, I couldn't help but give this novel five stars.
PS: If I wasn't already a vegan and an environmentalist, this book would have swayed me - humans are the worst.
Can we ever really know what takes place in an animal's mind? Of course not. But from reading the author's afterword and knowing the research that went into this story, I believe this is about as accurate as we'll get.
The Fox and the Hound is less of a story and more of a journey. Yes, parts of the journey are slow and dense, but the writing is so skilled, the payoff so intense, the action scenes so gripping, and the ending so heartbreaking, I couldn't help but give this novel five stars.
PS: If I wasn't already a vegan and an environmentalist, this book would have swayed me - humans are the worst.
September 13, 2023
This is the most stressful book I've ever fucking read.
November 21, 2022
This book is very rare and expensive if you can find it. I just saw a copy on Thriftbooks for over $200. When something is rare it becomes desirable. I wanted to read it so much I broke down and read it online.
Others have said it is not like the Disney version. I don't think I saw in any of the other reviews how really pretty brutal this book can be. The brutality makes it hard for me to want to recommend it to everyone. I will allude to that toward the end of this review. It is written well, and if they had stuck to the rivalry in terms of hunter versus prey, it would have been a good book.
The book is mostly from the fox's perspective. Tod is plausibly built up to the super cunning fox. First from easy farm dogs, and then from various lessons. Over time he got even more sophisticated:
Tod learned three valuable lessons from that terrible day which had climaxed with a sting of shot in his hide that itched him for a long time afterward. First, he made it a point never to use the same lying-up place twice in succession so his enemies would not know where to find him. Second, especially when being chased by a slow hound who made no attempt to press him, he took care never to cross at a crossing; instead he made a detour around such places. Last, unless so hard pressed he was forced to take the easiest and therefore most familiar route, he did not stay on his regular run when hounds were on his trail, and made it his business to learn a number of alternate runs he could use when hunted. When hunting himself, he generally stayed on his regular route because the run had been laid out to enable him to visit the best game areas where mice, rabbits, and other quarry lived; but at the first cry of hounds he switched over to one of his secondary routes as quickly as possible, usually alternating between them, particularly if the hounds were forcing him to run downwind.
They do a great job with the hound Copper. The book is most enjoyable when told from Copper's perspective following the scent trails and figuring out all the tricks of the fox. Copper's master has a vendetta against the fox after another of his dogs, Chief' is killed tracking Tod.
Tod has to survive normal 'Jug' hunters, who set up drinking from jugs next to a campfire while their hounds try to drive a fox to ground, being hunted with Copper following his trail, traps, traditional fox hunt with horses and a pack of dogs, hunters that use lures, and hunters who just shoot at them from afar. Good stuff and Tod plausibly learns to avoid getting killed from these dangers. Not so other foxes and animals. Those other animals getting killed is pretty brutal, but it gets worse. If you don't want to know more of what is in the book, then stop reading here.
It starts to get really brutal as housing developments shrink down the habitat. Then there is a rabies outbreak with the foxes and other animals. It spills into the neighborhoods with children about. The people then go all out to eradicate the carriers of the rabies. This part of the book is not pleasant.
Then I don't like the end ending, and Kleenex is definitely needed. I know tough challenges can make for high drama, but I would have preferred if they had left it at the fun hunting rivalry as in the movie. There is none of the happy parts from the Disney version. I think the brutal part is why the book seems to be so rare and doesn't seem to be a popular book. For those of us who like vintage books, read it for all the good that is in it. I will still try to find me a copy for my collection.
Others have said it is not like the Disney version. I don't think I saw in any of the other reviews how really pretty brutal this book can be. The brutality makes it hard for me to want to recommend it to everyone. I will allude to that toward the end of this review. It is written well, and if they had stuck to the rivalry in terms of hunter versus prey, it would have been a good book.
The book is mostly from the fox's perspective. Tod is plausibly built up to the super cunning fox. First from easy farm dogs, and then from various lessons. Over time he got even more sophisticated:
Tod learned three valuable lessons from that terrible day which had climaxed with a sting of shot in his hide that itched him for a long time afterward. First, he made it a point never to use the same lying-up place twice in succession so his enemies would not know where to find him. Second, especially when being chased by a slow hound who made no attempt to press him, he took care never to cross at a crossing; instead he made a detour around such places. Last, unless so hard pressed he was forced to take the easiest and therefore most familiar route, he did not stay on his regular run when hounds were on his trail, and made it his business to learn a number of alternate runs he could use when hunted. When hunting himself, he generally stayed on his regular route because the run had been laid out to enable him to visit the best game areas where mice, rabbits, and other quarry lived; but at the first cry of hounds he switched over to one of his secondary routes as quickly as possible, usually alternating between them, particularly if the hounds were forcing him to run downwind.
They do a great job with the hound Copper. The book is most enjoyable when told from Copper's perspective following the scent trails and figuring out all the tricks of the fox. Copper's master has a vendetta against the fox after another of his dogs, Chief' is killed tracking Tod.
Tod has to survive normal 'Jug' hunters, who set up drinking from jugs next to a campfire while their hounds try to drive a fox to ground, being hunted with Copper following his trail, traps, traditional fox hunt with horses and a pack of dogs, hunters that use lures, and hunters who just shoot at them from afar. Good stuff and Tod plausibly learns to avoid getting killed from these dangers. Not so other foxes and animals. Those other animals getting killed is pretty brutal, but it gets worse. If you don't want to know more of what is in the book, then stop reading here.
It starts to get really brutal as housing developments shrink down the habitat. Then there is a rabies outbreak with the foxes and other animals. It spills into the neighborhoods with children about. The people then go all out to eradicate the carriers of the rabies. This part of the book is not pleasant.
Then I don't like the end ending, and Kleenex is definitely needed. I know tough challenges can make for high drama, but I would have preferred if they had left it at the fun hunting rivalry as in the movie. There is none of the happy parts from the Disney version. I think the brutal part is why the book seems to be so rare and doesn't seem to be a popular book. For those of us who like vintage books, read it for all the good that is in it. I will still try to find me a copy for my collection.
January 2, 2022
I expected this book to be on the boring and dry side, just based on the topic/genre, but it was surprisingly engaging. The writing is really skillful; the author writes believably from the perspective of the fox and of the hound, and manages to build the overarching atmosphere, character development, and reader investment subtly and effectively. Even the moment to moment action is quite gripping and exciting. Every time the fox got into danger, I found myself wondering how he could possibly make his way out, even though I knew that he probably had to survive, given how much of the book remained.
The plot and the themes, while slightly on the nose at times, are also extremely moving and powerful. I won't spoil as to why, but I cried no less than 4 times reading this book, including really sobbing, which almost never happens to me.
Highly recommended.
The plot and the themes, while slightly on the nose at times, are also extremely moving and powerful. I won't spoil as to why, but I cried no less than 4 times reading this book, including really sobbing, which almost never happens to me.
Highly recommended.
February 4, 2017
This books does not deserve five stars. Five stars can't even begin to touch it. It deserves 10, 15, 100. Easily one of the best novels I've ever read. I've just finished and I'm left breathless, heartbroken, and in awe. Why oh why is this out of print? Like many other readers I have a pretty solid list in my head of my all time favorite books, and this one just caused an earthquake. There's been a shift, a grand one, and this story has secured its spot in my heart and on the top.
December 3, 2024
2.75⭐ rounded up.
Being a big fan of the Disney movie, I wanted to check the book out. I expected it to be quite different, but this source material is even further removed from Disney's version than I anticipated.
Here, you get no talking animals and none of them (Tod and Copper especially) are friends in any way. Instead what you get is something like a nature documentary that is told in a rather straightforward and matter of fact way.
As an animal buff myself, and lover of animal stories, I think there needs to be at least a hint of fantasy or imagination to them in order to be invested in the story. Daniel Mannix, from his experience as someone who personally raised foxes and knows a great deal about them and wildlife in general, uses his expertise to paint a realistic, grounded novel. This made it hard for me to become attached to any of the characters/animals, and also made it a bit monotonous as we simply follow the foxes hunting, mating, raising pups, and going through every mundane aspect of their lives.
There were some touching moments, however - mainly the habitat loss sections that affected all wildlife and not just the foxes, and the last chapter that has you feeling unexpectedly sympathetic for the hunter and his dog Copper, in a tragic ending.
Overall this was a somewhat interesting read but I couldn't recommend this except to those highly interested in nature and wildlife like myself. This isn't your conventional novel/story, and like I said, reads more like a nature documentary. But it has its moments and I'm glad to have read it.
Being a big fan of the Disney movie, I wanted to check the book out. I expected it to be quite different, but this source material is even further removed from Disney's version than I anticipated.
Here, you get no talking animals and none of them (Tod and Copper especially) are friends in any way. Instead what you get is something like a nature documentary that is told in a rather straightforward and matter of fact way.
As an animal buff myself, and lover of animal stories, I think there needs to be at least a hint of fantasy or imagination to them in order to be invested in the story. Daniel Mannix, from his experience as someone who personally raised foxes and knows a great deal about them and wildlife in general, uses his expertise to paint a realistic, grounded novel. This made it hard for me to become attached to any of the characters/animals, and also made it a bit monotonous as we simply follow the foxes hunting, mating, raising pups, and going through every mundane aspect of their lives.
There were some touching moments, however - mainly the habitat loss sections that affected all wildlife and not just the foxes, and the last chapter that has you feeling unexpectedly sympathetic for the hunter and his dog Copper, in a tragic ending.
Overall this was a somewhat interesting read but I couldn't recommend this except to those highly interested in nature and wildlife like myself. This isn't your conventional novel/story, and like I said, reads more like a nature documentary. But it has its moments and I'm glad to have read it.
January 11, 2009
Written in the point of view of a foxhound. The first book I have ever read in an animal's pov. There are a few pages of a wolf's pov in "Ordinary Wolves" by Seth Kantner. So vivid that even after putting the book down, I tended to see things, notice them, at a dog's height. One of the first books I read in English. Profound.
November 5, 2025
If you've ever watched a nature documentary and thought to yourself, "I wish I could read this," then this is the book for you!
Kidding aside, I expected to thoroughly dislike this book. I realize my rating would indicate that I did, but the truth is, I was pleasantly surprised. I was actually going to give it three stars - and then I read the last chapter. It may seem unfair for it to weigh so heavily when I generally enjoyed the journey, but it's so bleak that as the final taste in your mouth (so to speak), it drags the rest down.
Otherwise, this has plenty in it that I typically don't enjoy, yet it's told in such a scientific, observational manner that it doesn't feel superfluous or too graphic. That does not mean it's suitable for children, just that the author doesn't seem to revel in base animal behaviors. It helps that he did his research, too.
The cat-and-mouse of it all is thoroughly engaging to a point where I found myself enjoying it (almost) as much as Tod.
Kidding aside, I expected to thoroughly dislike this book. I realize my rating would indicate that I did, but the truth is, I was pleasantly surprised. I was actually going to give it three stars - and then I read the last chapter. It may seem unfair for it to weigh so heavily when I generally enjoyed the journey, but it's so bleak that as the final taste in your mouth (so to speak), it drags the rest down.
Otherwise, this has plenty in it that I typically don't enjoy, yet it's told in such a scientific, observational manner that it doesn't feel superfluous or too graphic. That does not mean it's suitable for children, just that the author doesn't seem to revel in base animal behaviors. It helps that he did his research, too.
The cat-and-mouse of it all is thoroughly engaging to a point where I found myself enjoying it (almost) as much as Tod.
February 17, 2021
I have never been so floored and impressed by a book. Mannix has an impeccable talent for capturing the behaviors and personalities of the characters in this book that are actually appropriate and believable for the story of anthropomorphized animals. The story of Tod and Copper is beautiful and dark at the same time, emphasizing the glaringly obvious narcissism and indifference that the human race possesses when it comes to cohabiting with nature while also embracing the extraordinary love between a dog and his Master. Truthfully, after reading this book I am extremely disappointed in Disney not only for altering the story so much that it is almost unrecognizable (typical Disney), but also buying the story out and essentially barring avid lovers of animal stories such as myself from reading it sooner and also preventing people from understanding the harsh truth of what used to happen to "vermin" (and still happens at the hands of irresponsible and heartless people) such as Tod. The fact that the average person cannot get their hands on a physical copy of this book is tragic because frankly this is the best book I have ever read and I would want nothing more than to share my experience reading this story with other people. If you can, get ahold of this book or at least get an e-copy of it to read and enjoy. Keep Disney from robbing us of the GOOD stories.
October 1, 2024
Daniel P. Mannix’s The Fox and the Hound is a passionate exploration of the intricate dynamics between nature and the human world, framed through the lives of Tod, a red fox, and Copper, a bloodhound. Set against the backdrop of a changing rural landscape, the novel offers a rich tapestry of emotions as it delves into themes of loyalty, rivalry, and the struggle for survival. Mannix’s meticulous research into animal behavior lends authenticity to the narrative, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters’ instincts and motivations.
Mannix’s narrative shines in its ability to weave real-life inspirations into the fiction, enriching the plot with a sense of authenticity. The climactic final chase draws from true events, adding weight to the emotional stakes and emphasizing the profound bond between Copper and Tod, even as they become adversaries. The interplay of human and animal experiences throughout the novel mirrors broader themes of change, loss, and resilience, particularly as the rural environment succumbs to urbanization.
Ultimately, The Fox and the Hound stands as a significant contribution to animal literature, celebrated for its depth and realism. Mannix’s skillful storytelling and nuanced character development leave readers contemplating the complex relationships that exist within the natural world. This novel is not just a tale of survival; it is a reflective journey that resonates with anyone who has ever grappled with the conflicting forces of loyalty and instinct.
Mannix’s narrative shines in its ability to weave real-life inspirations into the fiction, enriching the plot with a sense of authenticity. The climactic final chase draws from true events, adding weight to the emotional stakes and emphasizing the profound bond between Copper and Tod, even as they become adversaries. The interplay of human and animal experiences throughout the novel mirrors broader themes of change, loss, and resilience, particularly as the rural environment succumbs to urbanization.
Ultimately, The Fox and the Hound stands as a significant contribution to animal literature, celebrated for its depth and realism. Mannix’s skillful storytelling and nuanced character development leave readers contemplating the complex relationships that exist within the natural world. This novel is not just a tale of survival; it is a reflective journey that resonates with anyone who has ever grappled with the conflicting forces of loyalty and instinct.
October 23, 2024
Review from 2021:
Very effective. The story elements develop very well and very sneakily. The excitement came by surprise. I thought that should be sad. The last chapters, however, twisted around and became truly grim. They taught me the true way in which the fox and the hound were connected: they are veterans and perpetual citizens of a collapsed world (contrast this with the Disney movie where two young animals are brought together by innocence). This change makes meaning of and attaches emotion to the tedium in prior chapters. The structure worked so well to support the narrative for me.
I have had the animated movie on VHS since I was young, and this book hauntingly steps into its shadow at times. The aforementioned "connection" that the animals have is one example. Another occurs here, in the passage that the movie repurposes for hide and seek:
Seems like some people are saying the book just ends. What happens at the end of the story isn't explicitly stated, but I can hardly doubt the implication.
I like this book
Very effective. The story elements develop very well and very sneakily. The excitement came by surprise. I thought that should be sad. The last chapters, however, twisted around and became truly grim. They taught me the true way in which the fox and the hound were connected: they are veterans and perpetual citizens of a collapsed world (contrast this with the Disney movie where two young animals are brought together by innocence). This change makes meaning of and attaches emotion to the tedium in prior chapters. The structure worked so well to support the narrative for me.
I have had the animated movie on VHS since I was young, and this book hauntingly steps into its shadow at times. The aforementioned "connection" that the animals have is one example. Another occurs here, in the passage that the movie repurposes for hide and seek:
An abrupt exclamation from the Master and a quick rustle ahead of him. Knowing the Master must have seen something, Copper rushed blindly forward. Here it was! The reeking-hot track of fox! It started by the stump of an oak and led away through the trees, but Copper was not sure whether the fox had been lying on top of the stump and jumped off or whether he had run to the stump and was now on top of it. Standing on his hind legs, he smelled the top of the stump. No doubt about it now, the fox had been lying there for some time, but he was not there now. Whirling around, Copper set off on the line in full cry.
Seems like some people are saying the book just ends. What happens at the end of the story isn't explicitly stated, but I can hardly doubt the implication.
I like this book
July 18, 2015
I had to search for over five years to get a copy of this. It cost me much more than any of my other books.
And it was all worth it.
I don't think I ever cried as hard over any book as this. It was amazing!
It's so well written and I grew very attached to both, Tod and Copper, even though I was rooting for Tod.
The ending was excellent! I hate it when a story is great and the end just doesn't do it. Not in this book! It's a fantastic read from start to finish. An instant favourite for me.
And it was all worth it.
I don't think I ever cried as hard over any book as this. It was amazing!
It's so well written and I grew very attached to both, Tod and Copper, even though I was rooting for Tod.
The ending was excellent! I hate it when a story is great and the end just doesn't do it. Not in this book! It's a fantastic read from start to finish. An instant favourite for me.
June 24, 2012
One of my all-time favourite works of xenofiction. No mere talking animals musical is this: the book really explores what it would actually be like to be a beast of smell and sound over the beasts of sight us humans are. Gripping, exciting, beautiful, and sad. Damn shame it's out of print - snap it up if you can.
(Date finished a rough guess; I've read it several times since.)
(Date finished a rough guess; I've read it several times since.)
February 19, 2022
What was the point of this? Everything is grotesque, sad, hateful, tragic, nothing moves forward, everything gets worse, nothing is learned other than the inevitable acceptance of defeat. Why? What kind of miserable person even writes this? Two stars because the writing skills were good.
January 11, 2021
With a roar of fury, the hound burst from his barrel into the false light of early dawn. There, only a few yards away, a fox was sitting grinning at him. So crazed with rage he could not think, the hound flung himself at the intruder. The fox did not move. As his jaws were about to close over the stinking red interloper, the hound was flung on his side and lay groveling on the hard-packed earth. He had come to the end of his chain and been jerked backward.
By now every hound in the pack, as well as the fierce mongrel catch dogs, had been awakened and were raging at the ends of their chains. The fox cocked his triangular head to grin at them, knowing he was safe. Then he turned to the hound and barked again in the same teasing way. The taunt set the hound completely out of his head with madness. He flung himself the full length of the chain, rolled on the ground, tore at the metal links, and screamed with frustration while the fox still sat scoffing at him. The fox clearly knew to a foot the length of the chain – no difficult feat, for the fan-shaped strip of padded earth around each kennel showed the boundaries beyond which the captive dog could not go – and was enjoying himself immensely. He had stopped barking, as he could not have been heard above the tumult, and sat gloating over the chaos he was causing.
(Daniel P. Mannix, The Fox and the Hound, p.12)
An unusually cunning red fox makes fools of a pack of hunting dogs once too often and a promising tracker dies as a result. The Master and his half-bloodhound, Copper, make it their lifelong pursuit to kill it one way or another.
If you’ve seen the Disney movie you’re going to have a few confusing moments since they reversed the names of Chief and Copper for the film. And dear lord do not let young kids read it; they probably won’t last more than a single chapter (they’re each fairly long) but if they skip to the end there’s going to be tears. I hate bittersweet endings and this is one of those ‘everybody loses’ types.
In spite of having my least favorite kind of ending, I’m debating getting a copy for myself as this is my second time reading it and I’m just an enamored as the first time. The author’s work is magnificent. While the plot revolves around the hunt for the fox it doesn’t center on it. It really is the story of their lives. The fox finds a mate, defends its territory, clashes and outsmarts other humans, and has a very successful foxy life in general; outliving the farmland it was born into. The hound is only slightly more interesting as it follows the Master by association, and his own struggles going from a successful hunter to an obsolete relic. The countryside gets bulldozed into subdivisions and fox hunting becomes a rich man’s high-brow hobby and the poster child for animal cruelty.
The chapters flip back and forth between following Copper and the fox. I think what intrigues me so much about this book is being able to see this battle from both sides. It’s not like getting into the minds of two humans with different morals because they still have the same thought processes, a fox and a hound are two different animals. Copper uses his name and the names of the other dogs, his skills and techniques were trained into him, he can think ahead and improvise, and he has a bloodlust for that fox. The fox, on the other hand, was named Tod at the outset but is typically referred to as 'the fox' since he’s a wild animal with no use for names (it's only much later in the book when country foxes become increasingly rare that the author begins to refer to him by name). He can’t think ahead because he has limited ability to link cause and effect. Thanks to this, while he recognizes Copper’s scent and howl he has no grudge against the hound because he doesn’t realize he’s the center of a vendetta. He recognizes that Copper is dangerous - more so than other hounds given his persistence and his familiarity with the fox’s favorite tricks – but in the end it’s treated as just another day of staying one bound ahead.
CHARACTERS:
Copper and the fox are made interesting in very different ways, but I was especially fascinated with the story of the Master. It only unfolded in Copper’s chapters and we only learn as much as the colorblind, nearsighted hound can observe. But the impression it created - a man growing old and unwanted in the background of someone else’s story, possibly tiring of the hunt but seeing it through to the end only to satisfy the purpose of his last, dearest friend, put away at the end of it all to have his legacy and triumphs forgotten as soon as he is no longer useful – was striking and heartbreaking. Damn it. Now I’m tearing up again.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
I'd give it ten stars if I could. Mannix did an amazing job. In his author's note he explains that many stories of the fox's actions - for example, carrying a bird upside-down and using the splayed wings to carry additional field mice, and much of the final day and a half-long hunt - are true stories from various sources. He also kept a mated pair of foxes that would allow him to observe them close-up. The stories of the hunting dogs are so rich that the reader feels he's on the ground trailing Copper and learning the trade at his heels.
PLOT/SOLUTION:
I'm not terribly fond of life story style books (you can probably thank David Copperfield for that), but that's my only gripe. And I'm not letting it affect the score too much because the lifelong hunt meant a solid plot thread. The only reason a star was knocked off was because there were many more chapters centered around the fox than the hound, and while entertaining the character has so many other hazards in his life that the plot had a habit of going quiet after a while.
THE VERDICT?
I can't stand books that make me cry but I'll probably be going back to this one again. It's worth it. It's also given me an appetite for a good, rich animal book, so I'll probably be picking up Call of the Wild and White Fang again next.
By now every hound in the pack, as well as the fierce mongrel catch dogs, had been awakened and were raging at the ends of their chains. The fox cocked his triangular head to grin at them, knowing he was safe. Then he turned to the hound and barked again in the same teasing way. The taunt set the hound completely out of his head with madness. He flung himself the full length of the chain, rolled on the ground, tore at the metal links, and screamed with frustration while the fox still sat scoffing at him. The fox clearly knew to a foot the length of the chain – no difficult feat, for the fan-shaped strip of padded earth around each kennel showed the boundaries beyond which the captive dog could not go – and was enjoying himself immensely. He had stopped barking, as he could not have been heard above the tumult, and sat gloating over the chaos he was causing.
(Daniel P. Mannix, The Fox and the Hound, p.12)
An unusually cunning red fox makes fools of a pack of hunting dogs once too often and a promising tracker dies as a result. The Master and his half-bloodhound, Copper, make it their lifelong pursuit to kill it one way or another.
If you’ve seen the Disney movie you’re going to have a few confusing moments since they reversed the names of Chief and Copper for the film. And dear lord do not let young kids read it; they probably won’t last more than a single chapter (they’re each fairly long) but if they skip to the end there’s going to be tears. I hate bittersweet endings and this is one of those ‘everybody loses’ types.
In spite of having my least favorite kind of ending, I’m debating getting a copy for myself as this is my second time reading it and I’m just an enamored as the first time. The author’s work is magnificent. While the plot revolves around the hunt for the fox it doesn’t center on it. It really is the story of their lives. The fox finds a mate, defends its territory, clashes and outsmarts other humans, and has a very successful foxy life in general; outliving the farmland it was born into. The hound is only slightly more interesting as it follows the Master by association, and his own struggles going from a successful hunter to an obsolete relic. The countryside gets bulldozed into subdivisions and fox hunting becomes a rich man’s high-brow hobby and the poster child for animal cruelty.
The chapters flip back and forth between following Copper and the fox. I think what intrigues me so much about this book is being able to see this battle from both sides. It’s not like getting into the minds of two humans with different morals because they still have the same thought processes, a fox and a hound are two different animals. Copper uses his name and the names of the other dogs, his skills and techniques were trained into him, he can think ahead and improvise, and he has a bloodlust for that fox. The fox, on the other hand, was named Tod at the outset but is typically referred to as 'the fox' since he’s a wild animal with no use for names (it's only much later in the book when country foxes become increasingly rare that the author begins to refer to him by name). He can’t think ahead because he has limited ability to link cause and effect. Thanks to this, while he recognizes Copper’s scent and howl he has no grudge against the hound because he doesn’t realize he’s the center of a vendetta. He recognizes that Copper is dangerous - more so than other hounds given his persistence and his familiarity with the fox’s favorite tricks – but in the end it’s treated as just another day of staying one bound ahead.
CHARACTERS:
Copper and the fox are made interesting in very different ways, but I was especially fascinated with the story of the Master. It only unfolded in Copper’s chapters and we only learn as much as the colorblind, nearsighted hound can observe. But the impression it created - a man growing old and unwanted in the background of someone else’s story, possibly tiring of the hunt but seeing it through to the end only to satisfy the purpose of his last, dearest friend, put away at the end of it all to have his legacy and triumphs forgotten as soon as he is no longer useful – was striking and heartbreaking. Damn it. Now I’m tearing up again.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
I'd give it ten stars if I could. Mannix did an amazing job. In his author's note he explains that many stories of the fox's actions - for example, carrying a bird upside-down and using the splayed wings to carry additional field mice, and much of the final day and a half-long hunt - are true stories from various sources. He also kept a mated pair of foxes that would allow him to observe them close-up. The stories of the hunting dogs are so rich that the reader feels he's on the ground trailing Copper and learning the trade at his heels.
PLOT/SOLUTION:
I'm not terribly fond of life story style books (you can probably thank David Copperfield for that), but that's my only gripe. And I'm not letting it affect the score too much because the lifelong hunt meant a solid plot thread. The only reason a star was knocked off was because there were many more chapters centered around the fox than the hound, and while entertaining the character has so many other hazards in his life that the plot had a habit of going quiet after a while.
THE VERDICT?
I can't stand books that make me cry but I'll probably be going back to this one again. It's worth it. It's also given me an appetite for a good, rich animal book, so I'll probably be picking up Call of the Wild and White Fang again next.
December 16, 2020
Amazing book. I've never read a book like this before. If you are expecting a book that's similar to the Disney movie Fox and The Hound, you are going to be VERY surprised(like me). This book is not a children's book. The Fox and the hound are not friends. They never talk, or think or act like human. In this book animals acts like animals, think like animals. You'll begin this book feeling you are reading the book version of Animal Planet documentary. Then you get drawn in by the characters of the fox, the hound, and the hunter. You find yourself cheering for the fox one second, then cheering for the hound the other second. The author does not pull his punches at all on the cruelty or reality of his world. Things get real fast and you quickly realize you are not reading a disney fairy tale. You really feel the hatred from the hunter, the eagerness of the hound, and the cunning of the fox. Then when the story advanced, you see the relations of the hunter/hound and the fox changes. They have a relationship that almost of a friendship, besides the fact one side is trying to kill the other side all the time. Then comes the heart wrenching ending that hit you like a train, and makes you think about this story over and over.
January 14, 2026
— 4 devastating ★
➜ i urge you not to open this book in hopes of reading the version of the fox and the hound all of us are familiar with. this story was not the story i grew up watching. and to think that nothing could make the disney movie any more traumatic… let’s just say this book proved me wrong.
🐾| watching them with savage jealousy, copper knew that his day was done and that there would be a new leader of the pack.
➜ copper, a hound dog who knew nothing but fierce loyalty and the violence that same loyalty brought. he spent years to fulfill his master’s wish, and once his master had nothing left to lose but copper, copper was faced with the most profound betrayal.
🍂| as the years passed, the countryside began to change, and tod hated changes, especially changes like this. his was basically a world of sounds and scents; and when the sounds and scents altered, he felt lost and bewildered.
♪—vienna (in memoriam),the army, the navy
➜ my baby tod was so confused all his life, and it hurt so so so much. he grew up as a pet, and his masters would force him to behave like one too. then, once he left for the forest, he was quickly targeted by hounds and hunters. then, once he got a minuscule amount of peace, his habitat was gradually destroyed. and finally—as if his life being turned upside down wasn’t enough—he had to run for days on end to survive a hunt.
October 16, 2024
I have a lot of thoughts while reading this book, so expect a video on my Booktube about all of it. It will have spoilers because I'll be going over almost all the plot points in order to talk about them.
There were points where it was good and others bad and boring. The ending was honestly just as sudden as "the end" but not in a bad way. Mostly in a shocking way that I think ended just as it should have, because any other way would have been a smear to Todd's life. Overall I think it's a different story than the one Disney would lead me to believe.
There were points where it was good and others bad and boring. The ending was honestly just as sudden as "the end" but not in a bad way. Mostly in a shocking way that I think ended just as it should have, because any other way would have been a smear to Todd's life. Overall I think it's a different story than the one Disney would lead me to believe.
January 21, 2026
Wow. Disney made a mess of this extraordinary read. Far as I can tell the only part they got right were the names of the fox and the hound.
I mean Disney’s version will always be a childhood favorite of mine but these are two wildly different tales.
Did I still cry? Yes.
Will I recommend and gift to everyone I know? Yes.
A must read as far as I’m concerned.
A classic 10/10.
I mean Disney’s version will always be a childhood favorite of mine but these are two wildly different tales.
Did I still cry? Yes.
Will I recommend and gift to everyone I know? Yes.
A must read as far as I’m concerned.
A classic 10/10.
January 29, 2024
It took me a month to get through this book. It’s not long it’s just very gruesome and I cried through a lot of it. The ending though blew me away. I didn’t want to give it a 5 stars but the ending made it worth it. WOW. I’m going to go cry some more now.
September 3, 2024
où est l'amitié ??? c'est bien écrit, mais le ressenti est tellement looooong qu'un documentaire arte sur la chasse et la forêt serait plus efficace
les dernières pages cependant... j'y pense
les dernières pages cependant... j'y pense
March 17, 2025
I’ll never look at animals the same way again. I loved this book 🤍
February 13, 2022
This took me awhile to read but the writing was really pretty. Lots of details about the hunt that were kind of amazing. Not the Disney movie. Definitely some sad parts in the book.
June 16, 2015
A skilled hound relentlessly hunts. A clever fox nimbly eludes him. They spend their lives in an endless game of cat-and-mouse, each learning from the other's mistakes. Tod the fox is sly and learns quickly, and having been raised by man knows his tricks. But Copper the hound and his master continually have new tricks up their sleeve, and it's only a matter of time before Tod and his family can no longer outrun a pack of bloodhounds.
Even compared to all my other Disney source material read-through selections, this book was an interesting experience, for many reasons. 1) It's out of print and was nearly impossible to find at any library, even through inter-library loan, so I had to use some creative means to find a copy of it, 2) It's very dense and realistic, with almost no dialogue at all, and 3) It's the first time I read a book and wondered how and why anyone would finish it and say to themselves, "I think that would make a great Disney movie. Don't get me wrong, the 1981 animated film will always hold a special place in my heart, and I think the story in the movie works, but it barely resembles Mannix's story of the non-stop, single-minded, vicious hunt. There are a few elements here and there that you can tell they took and incorporated into their version, but if I didn't know any better I wouldn't really think it's suited for children's media (shows what I know... maybe that's why I'm not a Disney story guy). In any case, this book is gritty and interesting, but at the same time it's a bit tedious and repetitive. The chapters alternate between the hunter and the hunted, and Tod's chapters were very much about everyday life for a fox in the forest, including the minutiae of finding food, fighting rivals, mating, etc. Copper's chapters seemed a little more focused on the details of scenting and catching game, with just a little detail about hound dog life. I don't know, I kept thinking it was sort of documentaryish and dictionaryish, kind of like Moby-Dick but about wilderness quadrupeds instead (except without the same kind of compelling characters and human drama). The animal characters felt real and were not anthropomorphized at all, which was refreshing but at the same time made them feel distant and made it hard to really care about what happened to them. It wasn't terrible, and the writing was decent, but it plodded along and ended rather abruptly, and pretty vaguely. I also felt like I was being suddenly preached to in the last 25 pages or so, which I just wasn't expecting, and which I didn't think was very fitting with the rest of the story.
I have no idea who first read this book and decided it would make a great Disney movie, because that's definitely not the feeling it left me with (but it did anyway, so maybe what do I know?). It has a few bare-bones elements that were significantly altered and adapted and incorporated into the animated version, but mostly it's a long, heavy, sometimes interesting, sometimes not story about a relentless hunter and his undaunted prey, and their natural, lifelong mutual animosity.
P.S. This was my first experience reading an ebook, and I basically hated almost everything about it, so there is that.
Even compared to all my other Disney source material read-through selections, this book was an interesting experience, for many reasons. 1) It's out of print and was nearly impossible to find at any library, even through inter-library loan, so I had to use some creative means to find a copy of it, 2) It's very dense and realistic, with almost no dialogue at all, and 3) It's the first time I read a book and wondered how and why anyone would finish it and say to themselves, "I think that would make a great Disney movie. Don't get me wrong, the 1981 animated film will always hold a special place in my heart, and I think the story in the movie works, but it barely resembles Mannix's story of the non-stop, single-minded, vicious hunt. There are a few elements here and there that you can tell they took and incorporated into their version, but if I didn't know any better I wouldn't really think it's suited for children's media (shows what I know... maybe that's why I'm not a Disney story guy). In any case, this book is gritty and interesting, but at the same time it's a bit tedious and repetitive. The chapters alternate between the hunter and the hunted, and Tod's chapters were very much about everyday life for a fox in the forest, including the minutiae of finding food, fighting rivals, mating, etc. Copper's chapters seemed a little more focused on the details of scenting and catching game, with just a little detail about hound dog life. I don't know, I kept thinking it was sort of documentaryish and dictionaryish, kind of like Moby-Dick but about wilderness quadrupeds instead (except without the same kind of compelling characters and human drama). The animal characters felt real and were not anthropomorphized at all, which was refreshing but at the same time made them feel distant and made it hard to really care about what happened to them. It wasn't terrible, and the writing was decent, but it plodded along and ended rather abruptly, and pretty vaguely. I also felt like I was being suddenly preached to in the last 25 pages or so, which I just wasn't expecting, and which I didn't think was very fitting with the rest of the story.
I have no idea who first read this book and decided it would make a great Disney movie, because that's definitely not the feeling it left me with (but it did anyway, so maybe what do I know?). It has a few bare-bones elements that were significantly altered and adapted and incorporated into the animated version, but mostly it's a long, heavy, sometimes interesting, sometimes not story about a relentless hunter and his undaunted prey, and their natural, lifelong mutual animosity.
P.S. This was my first experience reading an ebook, and I basically hated almost everything about it, so there is that.
February 19, 2022
This dark psychological thriller shares little in common with its Disney adaptation past title and character names. The raw writing style is vastly different than any other book I have read. Fox and the Hound is among the best tragedies I have experienced in print.
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