As a child, I loved the Walt Disney movie Bambi. I was not as familiar with the original work of Bambi, The Story of a Life in the Forest by Felix Salten, on account of its more violent nature. However, as an adult, I have taken it upon myself to read and learn more about the original work of the film that I loved as a child. In reading Bambi, The Story of a Life in the Forest, I came to realize the complex political messaging in the story. Today, Bambi symbolizes both a childhood movie and the narrative of a complex and exploitative relationship between man and nature.
Part of the reason Bambi is such a standout book is because it is told from an animal’s perspective. It creates the perfect narrative to exemplify the harm humans inflict on nature. Although Bambi is certainly a noteworthy tale, there is a whole host of other books that are also told from an animal’s perspective. Here is a list of 5 incredible book recommendations that are told from an animal’s perspective.
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Aside from Bambi, Black Beauty was the first heartbreak of my childhood. The book captures a devastating story narrated by a horse named Black Beauty; it details Black Beauty’s happy beginning with his mother, but soon the story shifts to his life working as a workhorse for London cabs, where he undergoes terrible abuse. Black Beauty also shows the tragedy of Black Beauty’s companion, particularly his most notable companion, Ginger. Each chapter details a moral lesson pertaining to the treatment of horses. Overall the story is beautiful, and it will definitely be one to remember!
What We Fed the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri
In her debut novel, Talia Lakshmi Kolluri creates a series of vivid and breathtaking stories told from various animal perspectives. The book follows the tender relationship between a hound that is sworn to protect a rhino, a donkey’s loyalty to his zookeeper that is suddenly challenged, vultures that are questioning the meaning of their life, and finally, a hurt pigeon finding new friends, the big city of Delhi. Kolluri’s stories deal with feelings of heartbreak and tenderness while crafting a profound message about environmentalism. I definitely recommend you read What We Fed the Manticore next.
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Buck is a dog that is living luxurious life in California; he is the dog of an affluent family, and he is well taken care of. Unfortunately, one day he is stolen by the family’s gardener to help pay off his gambling debts. Buck is sold to a stranger and taken on a journey north to Alaska, where he is trained as a sled dog. Throughout his journey, Buck makes both friends and enemies, all while dealing with the hardships that racing dogs face. The Call of the Wild is a harrowing classic that details the widespread mistreatment of dogs and shows how there can be kindness in unlikely places.
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Watership Down has the most elements that are similar to Felix Salten’s Bambi. This story follows a group of rabbits who are anthropomorphized, meaning that they have their own culture and folklore. Although throughout the book, they do have human traits, these are rabbits that live in the wild.
The rabbits live happily in their burrow, but a buck rabbit sees the future and exclaims that there will be a destruction of their home. A small group leaves their burrow, escaping the destruction of their previous home. Follow this small group of buck rabbits creating a new home for themselves on the hill of Watership Down. Watership Down is not only a classic book but also has an adapted movie that you should definitely check out after reading this book.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
This is a classic novella about a seagull who is trying to reflect on his existence as a bird and learn more about flying. Jonathan, the bird that the story follows, is an independent thinker who is an outcast from his flock, so he is determined to self-reflect and determine the meaning of life as a bird. Throughout his journey, Jonathan makes unlikely friends and learns how to cope with his existence. Jonathan Livingston Seagulls also plays with forms of fiction by using pictures taken by Russell Munson to help communicate the seagull’s narrative. Richard Bach writes a very compelling narrative about this seagull struggling to find his place within his species that many people can relate to.
While all these books have unique qualities, there are common themes running through them. Ultimately, they all comment on the treatment of animals by humans. By putting the reader in an animal’s perspective, each author is able to showcase the sadistic way humans treat all kinds of animals; this technique of storytelling is effective and makes this genre stand out amongst all other classic books.
For more content on Classic Books, click here!