Animal Heroes

by Ernest Thompson Seton

This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!

Genres: Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Short Stories

Paperback

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Ernest Thompson Seton was a Scots-Canadian (and naturalized U.S. citizen) who became a noted author, wildlife artist, founder of the Woodcraft Indians, and one of the founding pioneers of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Seton also heavily influenced Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting. His notable books related to Scouting include The Birch Bark Roll and The Boy Scout Handbook. He is responsible for the strong influence of American Indian culture in the BSA.

He was born Ernest Evan Thompson in South Shields, County Durham (now part of South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear), England of Scottish parents and his family emigrated to Canada in 1866. As a youth, he retreated to the woods to draw and study animals as a way of avoiding his abusive father. He won a scholarship in art to the Royal Academy in London, England.

He later rejected his father and changed his name to Ernest Thompson Seton. He believed that Seton had been an important name in his paternal line. He developed a fascination with wolves while working as a naturalist for Manitoba. He became successful as a writer, artist and naturalist, and moved to New York City to further his career. Seton later lived at Wyndygoul, an estate that he built in Cos Cob, a section of Greenwich, Connecticut. After experiencing vandalism by the local youth, Seton invited them to his estate for a weekend where he told stories of the American Indians and of nature.

He formed the Woodcraft Indians in 1902 and invited the local youth to join. The stories became a series of articles written for the Ladies Home Journal and were eventually collected in the The Birch Bark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians in 1906.

He was married twice. The first marriage was to Grace Gallatin in 1896. Their only daughter, Ann, was born in 1904 and died in 1990. Ann, who later changed her first name, became a best-selling author of historical and biographical novels as Anya Seton. According to her introduction to the novel Green Darkness, both of her parents were practicing Theosophists. Ernest and Grace divorced in 1935, and Ernest soon married Julia M. Buttree. Julia would write works by herself and with Ernest. They did not have any children, but did adopt an infant daughter, Beulah (Dee) Seton (later Dee Seton Barber), in 1938. Dee Seton Barber died in 2006.

Reviews

[валентина карпова]

Those were the stories of my childhood. I did not speak English then and read them translated into Russian. The story that accompanied me the whole of my life is The Slum Cat. It left a lasting impression with me then - i cried over the Cat when she was unhappy and told everybody about the cat"s transformations and adventures when she became a famous breed.

The time went by and once owing tho the Slum Cat I happened to get acquainted with a young man . We were on a Motor coach taking us from one place to another. We were both students - I studied the English lg at the Pedagogical Dept. and he studied French at the Interpreters Dept. At that very time he was reading The Slum Cat in French, and I was doing the same in English. We had a good topic for conversation. In a few years time we got married.

Now I am 72 and live in Ukraine. My husband passed away of an insult 14 years ago. Once on a cold rainy day I saved a dying little kitten perhaps a month old. As it appeared the little one couldn't even drink milk and I had to feed her on some fresh cream and egg yolks with the help of syringe. Marianna (it's her name) a once a stray kitten, has turned into a beautiful and well groomed lady cat that warms my heart every minute. When asked what breed she is I say: " a valuable breed rarely known in these places, which is "Analostanka Queen" ( as it was interpreted into Russian) Not many people remember the story " The Slum Cat" and believe it is true. I say it just for fun certainly and easily reveal the secret when necessary. Usually people don't mind.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, Seton writes well and these stories about various animals captured my attention :)

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. I mean, some of these were really interesting. And then I was traumatized by the story of the homing pigeon.

Spoiler: only half of the animals even survive to the end of their story. About. I didn't keep specific track, but a lot of them died. Sometimes gruesomely.

[Tayler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I said no more Seton. I lied. (I really wanted to know about Little Warhorse)

[Carolyn davis]

horrible. cruel. made me sad.

[Twyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of my favorite stories in this book were "The Slum Cat", "Snap", and "The Winnipeg Wolf". In "The Legend of the White Reindeer", I didn't quite understand parts of it, but I might have missed bits and pieces and that's why.

[Aygun Samadova · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favourite books is "A Street Troubadour" by Ernest Seton Thompson. The folloowing stories are collected in that book: The Winnipeg Wolf, The Slum Cat, The Boy and the Lynx, Snap, Little Warhorse - The History of a Jack-rabbit, Arnaux, A Street Troubadour, Tito, Chink
I created my own book-cover for that collection (used the original cover :)
Here it is:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

[Erdene Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Wild and best novel story etc and its my first book read in my life so i finally read the origin one on English language

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

(A note for myself: I don't remember anything about this except that I loved it. Must find, read, and add a suitable edition with cover image.)

[Ivana]

People mistreat and kill animals. Animals suffer and die. More animals die.

Some animals are admirable. They die, too.