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.
