Novels on the Fox

 I have always had a soft spot for the Fox - ever since I found a deceased one on a teenage ramble through the fields surrounding our home at Holcombe in the wilds of the Mendips, Somerset. I carried it home, slung across my back and deposited it outside the back door of our house, much to the dismay of our Mother. Although I was told to take it back from whence it came, I did chop its tail off before doing so. I kept it for many weeks until the smell forced me to put it in our dustbin. I grew up in the West Indies on tales of Br'er Fox and Br'er Rabbit and always had a sneaking regard for the former.  Mr. Tod was also one of my favourite characters in the Beatrix Potter stories. On a trip to London, our family visited the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. I recall being far more interested in the cases containing a badger, a weasel, a stoat and a fox, rather than the more exotic animals of the world. I still have the four card leaflets I bought then

The Natural History leaflet

Then I bought David Stephen's excellent story of String Lug the Fox - published by the Lutterworth Press in 1950. My copy was the Fontana paperback edition of 1957. I still have it, with my childish writing on the fore title: Kenneth Hillier. 1957. Winter Term. Not long ago, I tracked down a copy of the first edition, in its dust wrapper. I now have half a dozen novels relating to foxes, dating from 1843 to 1950. Their front covers appear below. I shall read them all (most again) before Christmas.

 

                                           1843                                               1905

 

 

      

                                               1929                                            1931

 

 

                                             1937                                              1938

 

                                                                        1950

Reynard the Fox was once one of the most popular and beloved characters in European folk tales, as familiar as King Arthur or Robin Hood. He was a subversive, dashing, anarchic, witty and wily fox from the watery lowlands of East Flanders. He is in big trouble. He has been summoned to the court of King Noble the Lion, charged with a multiplicity of misdemeanours and crimes. How he pitted his wits against his accusers - greedy Bruin the Bear, dark and dangerous Isengrim the Wolf - to escape the gallows makes a compelling story.

Reynard the Fox

So - T. Smith's The Life of the Fox - here I come.