The Original Bambi : The Story of a Life in the Forest

H e was born in the middle of a thicket, one of those small hidden places in the fores t that appear to be open yet are shielded on all sides. The space was so small that there was barely enough room for him and his mother. Soon he s tood up and swayed anxiously on his thin back legs. He looked all around him with foggy eyes that saw nothing. Befuddled, he lowered his head and trembled a good deal, for he was s till somewhat bewildered. "What a beautiful child!" the magpie exclaimed. She had flown there lured by the gasps, groans, and screams that the fawn's mother had uttered in her labor. Now the magpie perched on a nearby branch. "What a beautiful child!" she cried again. She received no answer and yet kept busily chattering away. "It's as tonishing that he can s tand and walk right away! How interes ting! I've never seen anything like that in my entire life. Well, of course, I'm s till young, jus t one year since I left the nes t, which you perhaps know. But I think it's wonderful. A child like that . . . born into this world and a second later he can already s tand. I find it remarkable! In fac t, I find everything that you deer do elegant and noble. Tell me, can he run already?" "Certainly," the mother responded softly. "But you mus t excuse me if I'm not able to continue talking to you any longer. I've got so much to do now . . . and besides, I s till feel somewhat weak." "Well, I wouldn't want to dis turb you," the magpie said. "I don't have much time myself. But mos t people never see anything like this. Please, I know jus t how much bother and trouble things Zusammenfassung: "A new, beautifully illustrated translation of Felix Salten's celebrated novel Bambi--the original source of the beloved story. Most of us think we know the story of Bambi--but do we? The Original Bambi is an all-new, illustrated translation of a literary classic that presents the story as it was meant to be told. For decades, readers' images of Bambi have been shaped by the 1942 Walt Disney film--an idealized look at a fawn who represents nature's innocence--which itself was based on a 1928 English translation. This masterful new translation gives contemporary readers a fresh perspective on this moving allegorical tale and provides important details about its creator, the Austrian Jewish writer Felix Salten. Originally published in 1923, Salten's story is more somber than the adaptations that followed it. Life in the forest is dangerous and precarious, and Bambi learns important lessons about survival as he grows to become a strong, heroic stag. Jack Zipes's introduction traces the history of the book's reception and explores the tensions that Salten experienced in his own life--as a hunter who also loved animals, and as an Austrian Jew who sought acceptance in Viennese society even as he faced persecution. With captivating drawings by award-winning artist Alenka Sottler, The Original Bambi captures the rich emotional meaning of a celebrated story" --(Provided by publisher.) A new, beautifully illustrated translation of Felix Salten’s celebrated novel Bambi —the original source of the beloved story Most of us think we know the story of Bambi — but do we? The Original Bambi is an all-new, illustrated translation of a literary classic that presents the story as it was meant to be told. For decades, readers’ images of Bambi have been shaped by the 1942 Walt Disney film—an idealized look at a fawn who represents nature’s innocence—which was based on a 1928 English translation of a novel by the Austrian Jewish writer Felix Salten. This masterful new translation gives contemporary readers a fresh perspective on this moving allegorical tale and provides important details about its creator. Originally published in 1923, Salten’s story is more somber than the adaptations that followed it. Life in the forest is dangerous and precarious, and Bambi learns important lessons about survival as he grows to become a strong, heroic stag. Jack Zipes’s introduction traces the history of the book’s reception and explores the tensions that Salten experienced in his own life—as a hunter who also loved animals, and as an Austrian Jew who sought acceptance in Viennese society even as he faced persecution. With captivating drawings by award-winning artist Alenka Sottler, The Original Bambi captures the emotional impact and rich meanings of a celebrated story.