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The Animals of Farthing Wood #2-4
The Animals of Farthing Wood Omnibus
In the grip of winter - Fox's feud - The fox cub bold.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
11 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Colin Dann
102 books86 followersColin Dann (born 1943 in Richmond, Surrey (now part of London)) is an English author. He is best known for his The Animals of Farthing Wood series of books, which was subsequently made into an animated series.
Dann worked at the publishing firm William Collins Sons & Co. for thirteen years, and his first novel, The Animals of Farthing Wood, was written during this period. The original cover for this and a dozen others was painted by Portal artist Frances Broomfield.
Colin Dann, recipient of Britain's Arts Council National Award for Children's Literature, is also the author of six sequels and a prequel to The Animals of Farthing Wood.
Dann worked at the publishing firm William Collins Sons & Co. for thirteen years, and his first novel, The Animals of Farthing Wood, was written during this period. The original cover for this and a dozen others was painted by Portal artist Frances Broomfield.
Colin Dann, recipient of Britain's Arts Council National Award for Children's Literature, is also the author of six sequels and a prequel to The Animals of Farthing Wood.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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July 9, 2011Fox's Feud
This is a book about the response to unwelcome immigration. The Farthing Wood animals have upset some native members of the Park. And as I read this, there was absolutely NO mention of the White Deer Park foxes being blue. So I wonder where they got that idea from in the cartoon?
The most frightening member of the native foxes, Scarface, feels put upon by the newcomers. He's angry they've moved into his park and angry they've taken a whole quarter of it as their territory. As the Farthing Wood carnivores do not hunt the Farthing Wood herbivores, the foxes tend to hunt outside their quarter. And truth be told, I find it a little hard to understand why Scarface is so pissed because I'm an immigrant and quite frankly I don't have a problem with people leaving their destroyed homes for a better life somewhere else.
As it is, Scarface strikes the first blow by killing Fox and Vixen's daughter, Dreamer. It sets of a whole chain of events as the Farthing Wood animals realise Scarface is not only a major threat to their ongoing survival and prospering, but he is, at the moment, the ONLY threat. Scarface is even more upset when he compares his cubs to Fox's and finds his own lacking, especially in comparison to perfect, strong, fearless Bold.
I used to read this a lot when I was younger, and as I prepared to read it again, knowing how the plot unfolds, I thought that Fox's dealing with Scarface was a little harsh. But then I remembered that Scarface is ruthlessly cunning and will wipe out all of the Farthing Wood animals by himself if he could. So I understand the reaction, even if it does seem a little extreme. In comparison to the Farthing Wood losses, it's not really that big a deal - and it means to pave the way for Fox's family in the future as well.
The Fox Cub Bold
Bold is a great character, but Colin Dann is just... I dunno. I can't even say he's sadistic. He's not killing animals off for the sake of it. He's representing what really happens in the wild. Nowadays, books with this much death and destruction would be kept out of children's hands. I was reading The Fox Cub Bold when I ten.
Bold is a beautiful, robust, healthy, independent, slightly rebellious cub in search of the adventure his father encountered on his journey to White Deer Park. Bold can't imagine living life with the Nature Reserve, and so he leaves for the 'real world', the True Wild. He's successful at first - he's the perfect fox, really. Then the very Oath of Mutual Protection that his father lived by, which was carried on inside the reserve, comes back to bite him in the ass.
Bold was raised with this Oath, and he feels very compelled to help others in need - especially the sow badger caught in the trap meant for him after he wreaks destruction in a fowl game reserve. He helps the badger escape the trap, but damages his eye in the process. Later, with his eye not working properly, he accidentally runs among human hunters and is shot in the hind leg and permanently lamed.
This, you see, is Bold's downfall. The very Oath that worked to protect the Animals of Farthing Wood on their journey and inside the Park leads directly to Bold's own predicament. His need to be independent and free of his father's control leads him outside the park, where his injury leads him to rely on others to help him survive.
It's an incredibly moving story of what happens when a young, overconfident, brash and inexperienced fox leaves a nature reserve - but more than that, Bold didn't even experience the harshest winter on record and hasn't even the slightest clue that life within the reserve can be just as dangerous as outside it.
Is it any wonder foxes are my favourite animal?
Truth be told, I'm a little depressed after reading about such a brave, beautiful, broken creature struggle to survive. I may have to take a break before I read the next one.
This is a book about the response to unwelcome immigration. The Farthing Wood animals have upset some native members of the Park. And as I read this, there was absolutely NO mention of the White Deer Park foxes being blue. So I wonder where they got that idea from in the cartoon?
The most frightening member of the native foxes, Scarface, feels put upon by the newcomers. He's angry they've moved into his park and angry they've taken a whole quarter of it as their territory. As the Farthing Wood carnivores do not hunt the Farthing Wood herbivores, the foxes tend to hunt outside their quarter. And truth be told, I find it a little hard to understand why Scarface is so pissed because I'm an immigrant and quite frankly I don't have a problem with people leaving their destroyed homes for a better life somewhere else.
As it is, Scarface strikes the first blow by killing Fox and Vixen's daughter, Dreamer. It sets of a whole chain of events as the Farthing Wood animals realise Scarface is not only a major threat to their ongoing survival and prospering, but he is, at the moment, the ONLY threat. Scarface is even more upset when he compares his cubs to Fox's and finds his own lacking, especially in comparison to perfect, strong, fearless Bold.
I used to read this a lot when I was younger, and as I prepared to read it again, knowing how the plot unfolds, I thought that Fox's dealing with Scarface was a little harsh. But then I remembered that Scarface is ruthlessly cunning and will wipe out all of the Farthing Wood animals by himself if he could. So I understand the reaction, even if it does seem a little extreme. In comparison to the Farthing Wood losses, it's not really that big a deal - and it means to pave the way for Fox's family in the future as well.
The Fox Cub Bold
Bold is a great character, but Colin Dann is just... I dunno. I can't even say he's sadistic. He's not killing animals off for the sake of it. He's representing what really happens in the wild. Nowadays, books with this much death and destruction would be kept out of children's hands. I was reading The Fox Cub Bold when I ten.
Bold is a beautiful, robust, healthy, independent, slightly rebellious cub in search of the adventure his father encountered on his journey to White Deer Park. Bold can't imagine living life with the Nature Reserve, and so he leaves for the 'real world', the True Wild. He's successful at first - he's the perfect fox, really. Then the very Oath of Mutual Protection that his father lived by, which was carried on inside the reserve, comes back to bite him in the ass.
Bold was raised with this Oath, and he feels very compelled to help others in need - especially the sow badger caught in the trap meant for him after he wreaks destruction in a fowl game reserve. He helps the badger escape the trap, but damages his eye in the process. Later, with his eye not working properly, he accidentally runs among human hunters and is shot in the hind leg and permanently lamed.
This, you see, is Bold's downfall. The very Oath that worked to protect the Animals of Farthing Wood on their journey and inside the Park leads directly to Bold's own predicament. His need to be independent and free of his father's control leads him outside the park, where his injury leads him to rely on others to help him survive.
It's an incredibly moving story of what happens when a young, overconfident, brash and inexperienced fox leaves a nature reserve - but more than that, Bold didn't even experience the harshest winter on record and hasn't even the slightest clue that life within the reserve can be just as dangerous as outside it.
Is it any wonder foxes are my favourite animal?
Truth be told, I'm a little depressed after reading about such a brave, beautiful, broken creature struggle to survive. I may have to take a break before I read the next one.
July 10, 2023
The book is amazing and it’s two books in one I would definitely recommend it for children up to 13
August 23, 2011
The two books in this collection, Fox's Feud and The Fox Cub Bold, are among my all-time favorites. I seriously recommend anyone to read these.
Fox's Feud
Fox gets a family, but all is not well, since Scarface, another fox who lived there before the Farthing Wood animals arrive, doesn't like it. Not Fox, Fox's (cute^^) cubs, or any of the Farthing Wood animals.
Things go from bad to worse, leading to a very interesting and serious plot, one that never fails to entertain, and one that will ultimately end in a dramatic standoff between Fox and Scarface.
Instead of focusing on a lot of animals, this story mainly focuses on Fox and some cubs, resulting in the reader being more absorbed into the story. Absolutely loved reading this one.
The Fox Cub Bold
After reading Fox's Feud, you're sure it can't get any better, and then it does. Completely different from all other Farthing Wood books, in that the whole story focuses on just one character, namely Fox's cub Bold.
The story is excellent and tragic, and you can't do anything but feel what Bold feels, be it physical or emotional.
This story is at least as good as Fox's Feud, and even more serious.
Summary:
I enjoyed both these stories even more than the original Animals of Farthing Wood. You must definately read them.
Edit Aug 23, 2011: Edited my review, removing spoilers.
Fox's Feud
Fox gets a family, but all is not well, since Scarface, another fox who lived there before the Farthing Wood animals arrive, doesn't like it. Not Fox, Fox's (cute^^) cubs, or any of the Farthing Wood animals.
Things go from bad to worse, leading to a very interesting and serious plot, one that never fails to entertain, and one that will ultimately end in a dramatic standoff between Fox and Scarface.
Instead of focusing on a lot of animals, this story mainly focuses on Fox and some cubs, resulting in the reader being more absorbed into the story. Absolutely loved reading this one.
The Fox Cub Bold
After reading Fox's Feud, you're sure it can't get any better, and then it does. Completely different from all other Farthing Wood books, in that the whole story focuses on just one character, namely Fox's cub Bold.
The story is excellent and tragic, and you can't do anything but feel what Bold feels, be it physical or emotional.
This story is at least as good as Fox's Feud, and even more serious.
Summary:
I enjoyed both these stories even more than the original Animals of Farthing Wood. You must definately read them.
Edit Aug 23, 2011: Edited my review, removing spoilers.
September 7, 2025
Reading this brought back nostalgic feelings of childhood as I remembered the characters and their journey from Farthing Wood. A good book overall though the second story is a little sad, dealing with death of main characters and old age.
February 29, 2020
Absolutely superb story. I've loved every word. Wonderfully told for adults and children to enjoy.
Now to the third book in the series - it is addictive!
Now to the third book in the series - it is addictive!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews