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

I've wanted to read an unabridged copy of Bambi for some time, and I loved this translation. The woodcut illustrations were a bonus, perfect for the tone of this story.

This is a new translation of the 1923 novel Bambi, on which the Disney movie was based. Or, more accurately, the movie was based on the 1928 English translation, but Whittaker Chambers. Yes, that Whittaker Chambers, if you recognize the name. If you do, you're most likely a Boomer like me. If you don't, that bit of weird background would probably not be that interesting to you.What's more relevant is that Felix Salten didn't write a sweet children's story about a deer born in the forest, making friends with all sorts of other forest animals, and growing up to live happily ever after with Faline. It's a darker story, and in part an allegory of the dangers of life for minorities in Europe, particularly the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where Salten, a secular Jew, tried very hard to assimilate and be accepted. In the book, the deer, birds, foxes, hares, and other animals, are trying to peacefully live their lives. Predation happens, but it's always shown as both shocking, and something those not directly involved should stay out of the way of. I don't think this is the strongest aspect of Salten's book, but I don't recall that the movie acknowledges this aspect of forest life at all.The great danger is He, Man, with the ability to kill at a distance, and hounds--animals who have betrayed their fellow animals--to help Him find and track them. Some of the most pleasant places in the forest, such as the meadow, are also places of great danger, because the animals are more visible there. Bambi's mother teaches him about the dangers and the need to take care, but the Great Prince of the Forest, who may be Bambi's father (the book never says so directly), goes further. He teaches Bambi many useful skills, but also that he must learn to live alone--truly alone.Bambi and Faline do fall in love, and do mate, but this doesn't become the film's happily ever after. That's not how deer live. Missing from the book are some of the film's most popular characters, such as Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk. Missing from the movie is Faline's brother, Gobo, whose story is one of great lessons of the dangers of Man. It's differences like this that make Salten's original story so much darker. As a child, I had a copy of the 1928 translation by Whittaker Chambers, and read and reread it till it fell apart. Chambers had done his own toning down, mostly of the political allegory, with more emphasis on the animal rights message--which I should note was also important to Salten. Even as a young child, I noticed the differences between book and movie, although the movie of course was a delight, and quite intentionally more fun. As an adult, my memories have been a bit of a mishmash of the two, such as "remembering" Gobo as part of the movie, which he wasn't. Now, it's fascinating to read a better translation of the original, as well as getting more background on the story, the author, and the circumstances in which he wrote it.Recommended.I bought this audiobook. And the ebook, too, because yes, I really loved this book, dark though it is, as a kid.

Most readers have seen the animated 1942 Disney classic, Bambi, in a movie theater, on video or TV. The source of the story is a novel written in 1922 by an Austrian author, Felix Salten. Born in Hungary in 1869, the author changed his birth name from Siegmund Salzmann to hide his Jewishness. Salten had suffered the scourge of pre-Nazi antisemitism beginning in his childhood and throughout his lifetime. He loved animals and wandering in the forest. The rights to Salten's novel, sold for $1000 and was mistranslated by Whitaker Chambers from the Austrian German. The original story is a far cry from the cartoon version.Salten uses the forest backdrop to explore the issues of seasonal forest changes and animal relationships. There are many predator/prey interactions. The main predator is referred to as HE, the armed hunter whose mere scent strikes fear in the hearts and minds of all the forest creatures. The reader should not be confused by the forest overgrowth. This is not a tale for the faint of heart. There is danger and death, loneliness and loss. It serves as a premonition for Nazi occupied Europe. There is no comic relief from Thumper or Flower, only the uncertainty and peril with every outing. This version is expertly translated by Jack Zipes with illustrations by Alenka Sottler, that burst with life and action as though they were woodcuts rather than two dimensional works. Enter the story of life in the forest and emerge with a different worldview.

Arrived on time and in good condition. Good value, Interesting story and analogies to the political scene in Europe prior to the Second World War really helped understanding and how it was so important at the time.

Reader be warned: this is not Disney's Bambi and may not be suitable for some young readers. That being said, this is a story of incredible depth and richness. Salten clearly knew the natural world around him, although I'm a bit perplexed as to how he could have been a hunter (which he was), since hunters are not portrayed heroically in the story. Salten was Jewish and as reviewers in other publications have noted, this story can be seen as an allegory of the barbaric treatment of the Jews under the Nazis. I can't help but compare Bambi to Orwell's Animal Farm, another animal story of complexity and richness. There's much wisdom to mine here and I'm grateful for the new translation.

This book may have been, at the time of its writing, a timely allegory to the racist suppression of Jews and other minorities during Hitler’s rise to power. It can still be seen that way, given the social unrest in response to rapidly changing cultural norms. It is particularly timely now in regard to the climate crisis, which looms larger every day. Soon we will be past the point of turnaround. Our relationship to Nature has to change, starting with seeing ourselves as part of it. Our human hubris needs a makeover. This book inspired me to read “Green Mansions”, by W. H. Hudson, a “companion” novel which may also be having a resurgence in our time.

Very well written allegory using forest animals to describe human persecution. It’s a very disturbing description of the fear and anxiety of never knowing when or where tragedy will strike.

Reminiscing

i bought this book because it’s a classic and has been my favourite disney movie for years. i was intrigued by this darker storyline that was mistranslated before, and i love that it touches on the theme of marginalization in a more correct fashion, as Salten intended. it did not disappoint. it’s very raw and unapologetic in the way that it details animal deaths in the book, but the themes are intriguing to see played out among the animals. this is a great read for disney lovers and not for kids at all, but that’s the great part about it. it’s not the story you knew as a kid, it’s much more beautiful and meaningful.

I had read this as a child and was really impressed with it, especially the Forrest and animal descriptions. As an adult reading it, I was satisfied with the story it was good if a little bleak.

the book is a cautionary tale of what could and eventually did happen in Germany from 1920's to 1930's.

Everyone knows the story of Bambi as depicted in the Walt Disney film. This book allow you to see the original story that was the basis for the film. The translation from Jack Zipes is wonderful and provides a sensuous look at the forest and its inhabitants. The introduction with its biography of Felix Salten and the history of the book is also valuable.