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oldpondnewfrog's review against another edition
2.0
I remember once I was really excited about this book; I think back when I was into Japanese myths, and foxes. That may be how I came across it. Anyway, it was effectively told and written, but it didn't move me much. Short. Clever narrative tricks, definitely, not that there were any amazing twists, just pleasant narrative cleverness that I appreicated, the way he made it seem as if he were reporting a real story, real events. Otherwise not too noteworthy for me.
dani's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
amandar9fa2f's review
3.0
Foxy allegory - the original.
A married woman turns into a fox, as an allegory of women's loss of identity within marriage.
See also, [b:Mrs Fox|20937445|Mrs Fox|Sarah Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396198539l/20937445._SY75_.jpg|40307900].
A married woman turns into a fox, as an allegory of women's loss of identity within marriage.
I am your husband, and if I keep you confined it is to protect you, not to let you run into danger. Show me how I can make you happy and I will do it, but do not try to escape from me. I love you, Silvia; is it because of that that you want to fly from me to go into the world where you will be in danger of your life always? There are dogs everywhere and they all would kill you if it were not for me.
See also, [b:Mrs Fox|20937445|Mrs Fox|Sarah Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396198539l/20937445._SY75_.jpg|40307900].
danir's review
4.0
I suppose this book was an extra good read because of knowing that Garnett would later marry Angelica, which gave an extra layer of meaning/reason to ponder. I enjoyed the illustrations, too.
wilte's review
3.0
Nice short novel, with very much empathy for Mr. Tebrick, whose wife turns into a fox. And they live in the English country side, where fox-hunting is quite popular.
I read the free version via Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10337
I read the free version via Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10337
beckysbookshelf's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
gremily's review
4.0
I’m not prone to going and looking up the lives of authors, but something about this brief novella seemed to encourage it. An allegorical fantasy, but of what, exactly? A man whose wife turns into a fox, and who continues to love her as she grows progressively more wild. An early twentieth century man who comes to terms with becoming a housewife of sorts, to a fox. Who is able to look past infidelity and raise another man’s (fox’s) cubs. There had to be a good story here.
Well, for a start, the story itself is good. It is as long as it needs to be, and no longer. It is accompanied by pretty woodcut illustrations by the author’s (non-fox) wife. It is engagingly written. A few years ago I noticed how well all the early twentieth century writers write, and since then I haven’t been able to un-notice it. I imagine it’s because they were writing letters all day long; they were constantly in practice.
So this was an effortless four stars for me anyway. But then there’s the author’s story. A Bloomsbury member and unreformed womanizer, who wonders mildly why his wife seemed unhappy! Upon observing the newborn daughter of his former male lover (illegitimate and unacknowledged, adopted by the woman’s husband) he thinks it might be nice to marry her when she’s old enough. And then he does, despite a 25-year age gap. That woman’s name was Angelica, and one of the fox cubs in this story is also called Angelica (his future wife would have been four when this was published). Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser.
I’m not prepared to do the kind of research to get to the bottom of this allegory, if there is a bottom to be gotten to, but even the hint of the man’s life story added a nice frisson to the experience.
Well, for a start, the story itself is good. It is as long as it needs to be, and no longer. It is accompanied by pretty woodcut illustrations by the author’s (non-fox) wife. It is engagingly written. A few years ago I noticed how well all the early twentieth century writers write, and since then I haven’t been able to un-notice it. I imagine it’s because they were writing letters all day long; they were constantly in practice.
So this was an effortless four stars for me anyway. But then there’s the author’s story. A Bloomsbury member and unreformed womanizer, who wonders mildly why his wife seemed unhappy! Upon observing the newborn daughter of his former male lover (illegitimate and unacknowledged, adopted by the woman’s husband) he thinks it might be nice to marry her when she’s old enough. And then he does, despite a 25-year age gap. That woman’s name was Angelica, and one of the fox cubs in this story is also called Angelica (his future wife would have been four when this was published). Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser.
I’m not prepared to do the kind of research to get to the bottom of this allegory, if there is a bottom to be gotten to, but even the hint of the man’s life story added a nice frisson to the experience.
isalavinia's review
2.0
David Garnett: Picture this, a lady... turns into a fox! Isn't that the wildest thing you've ever read?!
Me: *having read his bio and knowing he was sleeping with a married man, decided to be present at the birth of that man's daughter, jokingly wrote to a friend, "I think of marrying it. When she is 20, I shall be 46 – will it be scandalous?", and later on actually married her*: Not really...
Me: *having read his bio and knowing he was sleeping with a married man, decided to be present at the birth of that man's daughter, jokingly wrote to a friend, "I think of marrying it. When she is 20, I shall be 46 – will it be scandalous?", and later on actually married her*: Not really...
myxomycetes's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
One of those early fantasy stories from the 1920s that's called allegorical, but isn't really.
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