''Lady into Fox'' was

David Garnett David Garnett (9 March 1892 – 17 February 1981) was an English writer and publisher. As a child, he had a cloak made of rabbit skin and thus received the nickname "Bunny", by which he was known to friends and intimates all his life. Early ...

's first novel using his own name, published in 1922. This short and enigmatic work won the

James Tait Black Memorial Prize The James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are literary prizes awarded for literature written in the English language. They, along with the Hawthornden Prize, are Britain's oldest literary awards. Based at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Uni ...

, and the

Hawthornden Prize The Hawthornden Prize is a British literary award that was established in 1919 by Alice Warrender, who was born at Hawthornden Castle. Authors under the age of 41 are awarded on the quality of their "imaginative literature", which can be written ...

a year later. Being a work of fantasy set in the present-day society, it fits into the category of Contemporary Fantasy which was not yet recognized as a distinct genre at the time of writing.

Plot summary

Silvia Tebrick, the 24-year-old wife of Richard Tebrick, suddenly becomes a fox while they are out walking in the woods. Mr. Tebrick sends away all the servants in an attempt to keep Silvia's new nature a secret, although Silvia's childhood nurse returns. While Silvia initially acts human, insisting on wearing clothing and playing piquet, her behaviour increasingly becomes that characteristic of a vixen, causing the husband a great deal of anguish. Eventually, Mr. Tebrick releases Silvia into the wild, where she gives birth to five kits, whom Tebrick names and plays with every day. Despite Tebrick's efforts to protect Silvia and her cubs, she is ultimately killed by dogs during a fox hunt; Tebrick, who tried to save Silvia from the dogs, is badly wounded, but eventually recovers. McSweeney's Collins Library imprint republished ''Lady into Fox'' in 2004.

Reception and influence

Rebecca West described ''Lady Into Fox'' as one of the "best imaginative productions" of the decade. The success of the novel resulted in several imitations. They included a parody by Christopher Ward (1868-1943) ''Gentleman Into Goose'' (1924), while Jean Bruller, Vercors' homage ''Sylva'' (1961), depicts a fox transforming into a woman.

Adaptation

In 1939, British choreographer Andrée Howard created a musical work of the same name based on Garnett's book for Ballet Rambert. Sally Gilmour dancing Silvia Tebrick assured the ballet's success. The music was an arrangement of piano pieces by Arthur Honegger (''Sept pièces brèves'' and ''Toccata et variations''), setting and costumes designed by Nadia Benois.Deryck Lynham: ''Ballet Then and Now - A History of the Ballet in Europe'' (Sylvan Press, 1946) - p.154

References

External links

* * * 1922 British novels British fantasy novels Chatto & Windus books Hawthornden Prize-winning works Novels by David Garnett Books about foxes Fiction about shapeshifting {{1920s-fantasy-novel-stub