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Fifteen Rabbits
Hops and his young rabbit friends must face all the triumphs and trials in the first year of life in the woods.
Life is dangerous in the forest, especially for the fifteen young rabbits who are learning to navigate their home. While there are many wonderful things and other animals to get to know - including a deer by the name of Bambi - there are also dangers, and the constant threat of man. In order to thrive, the rabbits must stick together...
Life is dangerous in the forest, especially for the fifteen young rabbits who are learning to navigate their home. While there are many wonderful things and other animals to get to know - including a deer by the name of Bambi - there are also dangers, and the constant threat of man. In order to thrive, the rabbits must stick together...
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1929
8 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Felix Salten
242 books115 followersThere is more than one author with this Name.
Felix Salten was an Austrian writer. He was born Siegmund Salzmann in Budapest, Hungary. When he was three weeks old, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. Many Jews were immigrating into the city in the late 19th century because Vienna had finally granted full citizenship to Jews in 1867.
When his father went bankrupt, Felix had to quit school and begin working in an insurance agency. He also began submitting poems and book reviews to journals. He became part of the Young Vienna movement (Jung Wien) and soon received work as a full-time art and theater critic in the Vienna press. In 1901 he founded Vienna's first, short-lived literary cabaret. In 1900 he published his first collection of short stories. He was soon publishing, on an average, one book a year, of plays, short stories, novels, travel books, and essay collections. He also wrote for nearly all the major newspapers of Vienna. He wrote film scripts and librettos for operettas. In 1927 he became president of the Austrian P.E.N. club. (acronym of the International Association of Poets and Playwrights, Essayists and Editors, and Novelists)
His most famous work is Bambi, which he wrote in 1923. It was translated into English in 1928 and became a Book-of-the-Month Club hit. In 1933, he sold the film rights to Sidney Franklin for $1,000, who later transferred the rights to the Walt Disney studios. Disney released its movie based on Bambi in 1942.
Life in Austria became perilous for a prominent Jew in the 1930s. Adolf Hitler had Salten's books banned in 1936. Two years later (1938), after Austria had become part of Germany, Salten moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where he lived until his death.
He was married to the actress Ottilie Metzl, and had two children: Paul and Anna-Katherina. He wrote another book based on the character Bambi, titled Bambi's Children: The Story of a Forest Family, 1939. His stories "Perri" and "The Hound of Florence" inspired the Disney films Perri and The Shaggy Dog.
Salten is considered to be the author of the erotic novel Josephine Mutzenbacher, the fictional autobiography of a Vienna prostitute, which was published in 1906.
Felix Salten was an Austrian writer. He was born Siegmund Salzmann in Budapest, Hungary. When he was three weeks old, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. Many Jews were immigrating into the city in the late 19th century because Vienna had finally granted full citizenship to Jews in 1867.
When his father went bankrupt, Felix had to quit school and begin working in an insurance agency. He also began submitting poems and book reviews to journals. He became part of the Young Vienna movement (Jung Wien) and soon received work as a full-time art and theater critic in the Vienna press. In 1901 he founded Vienna's first, short-lived literary cabaret. In 1900 he published his first collection of short stories. He was soon publishing, on an average, one book a year, of plays, short stories, novels, travel books, and essay collections. He also wrote for nearly all the major newspapers of Vienna. He wrote film scripts and librettos for operettas. In 1927 he became president of the Austrian P.E.N. club. (acronym of the International Association of Poets and Playwrights, Essayists and Editors, and Novelists)
His most famous work is Bambi, which he wrote in 1923. It was translated into English in 1928 and became a Book-of-the-Month Club hit. In 1933, he sold the film rights to Sidney Franklin for $1,000, who later transferred the rights to the Walt Disney studios. Disney released its movie based on Bambi in 1942.
Life in Austria became perilous for a prominent Jew in the 1930s. Adolf Hitler had Salten's books banned in 1936. Two years later (1938), after Austria had become part of Germany, Salten moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where he lived until his death.
He was married to the actress Ottilie Metzl, and had two children: Paul and Anna-Katherina. He wrote another book based on the character Bambi, titled Bambi's Children: The Story of a Forest Family, 1939. His stories "Perri" and "The Hound of Florence" inspired the Disney films Perri and The Shaggy Dog.
Salten is considered to be the author of the erotic novel Josephine Mutzenbacher, the fictional autobiography of a Vienna prostitute, which was published in 1906.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 1, 2015
"Their destiny as rabbits was written in the expressions they unconsciously assumed. In the care-laden attitudes into which they unintentionally fell, during that rare pause, was expressed all the century-old sorrow of the perpetually hunted."
Fifteen Rabbits by Felix Salten, creator of the beloved Bambi, is not a sweet little story about a bunch of cute bunnies romping in the woods together. Do not read this story to the little ones before bed! Rather, it is a mostly bleak and realistic picture of what it is like to grow up as one of nature’s gentler creatures in a world that constantly threatens them with harm from man, the danger of other predators, and the menace of starvation. The story revolves around a group of young rabbits’ interactions with one another and their glimpses at the surrounding wildlife, including various birds, pheasants, deer and elk. No animal is safe from man and his weapons; there are many instances of death which are often disturbing and sad.
So, why read this book then? Well, for one, I think the author meant to send an important message regarding man and his mistreatment and misunderstanding of animals. "They were from two absolutely alien worlds, and there was no bridge from one to the other." Also, the descriptions of the animals, the woods, the meadow, and even the songs of the birds were quite lovely. The rabbits do experience some carefree moments of happiness and love. There is also a heartwarming scene between a dog and a rabbit, as well as a brief appearance by the now-matured and stately Bambi.
Fifteen Rabbits by Felix Salten, creator of the beloved Bambi, is not a sweet little story about a bunch of cute bunnies romping in the woods together. Do not read this story to the little ones before bed! Rather, it is a mostly bleak and realistic picture of what it is like to grow up as one of nature’s gentler creatures in a world that constantly threatens them with harm from man, the danger of other predators, and the menace of starvation. The story revolves around a group of young rabbits’ interactions with one another and their glimpses at the surrounding wildlife, including various birds, pheasants, deer and elk. No animal is safe from man and his weapons; there are many instances of death which are often disturbing and sad.
So, why read this book then? Well, for one, I think the author meant to send an important message regarding man and his mistreatment and misunderstanding of animals. "They were from two absolutely alien worlds, and there was no bridge from one to the other." Also, the descriptions of the animals, the woods, the meadow, and even the songs of the birds were quite lovely. The rabbits do experience some carefree moments of happiness and love. There is also a heartwarming scene between a dog and a rabbit, as well as a brief appearance by the now-matured and stately Bambi.
April 12, 2015
This is an odd little book by the author of Bambi. I think it was first published in 1920. It felt that way while reading it. It took me a long time to get through it even though it was very short. I think because I had a lot of other more exciting reading going on and it's a bit depressing. It was a challenge book, so I'm glad I read it. I'm still trying to figure out the intended audience. Although it is easy reading, the life and death struggle of the rabbits seems very raw. It is basically the story of a bunch of fictional rabbits, told in a real life setting. They way they move and eat and sleep and survive are all as real rabbits would do. The relationships are the only part that is really fictional. The dangers from other animals and humans are what actual rabbits face. I'm sure I will think of this the next time I see a wild rabbit in my yard.
July 6, 2015
Written by the author of 'Bambi' I knew I'd want to read this new edition as soon as I saw it on the shelves at the bookstore. I adore animal fiction, especially if it's similar to 'The Animals of Farthing Wood' or 'Watership Down'. This had elements of both, although there was very little consistent story about it. There was just life, not really a story, and all the little random events that make up life.
Probably the strangest thing about this book is how little the rabbits seem to resemble rabbits- they slept in a thicket, not underground, and paired off in twos or threes instead of a warren. In fact, they are often referred to as 'hares', but the title says 'Fifteen rabbits' so they have to be rabbits, right? They kind of gave the impression of both. Oh well.
A quick read, but not a children's book unless you want to explain the numerous bunny corpses. Three stars.
Probably the strangest thing about this book is how little the rabbits seem to resemble rabbits- they slept in a thicket, not underground, and paired off in twos or threes instead of a warren. In fact, they are often referred to as 'hares', but the title says 'Fifteen rabbits' so they have to be rabbits, right? They kind of gave the impression of both. Oh well.
A quick read, but not a children's book unless you want to explain the numerous bunny corpses. Three stars.
October 22, 2009
This is a beautiful little book primarily about the first year of life of a few rabbits. I guess if I counted all the rabbits in the book, I would find there are fifteen. We see the forest, the changing seasons, and all of the wonders of life, including man, through their eyes. The rabbits and other animals in the forest talk. That sounds childish and silly, but it works. They don't talk like we talk, but rather talk as one would expect rabbits would think and converse. The author definately knows nature and has captured the essence of these creatures. The book is full of joy and heartache. Life in the forest is dangerous, especially for rabbits, and the book deals with death in a sobering way. The book is short (only about 200 pages), but it is delightful. Felix Salten wrote one other famous book that we've all heard of - "Bambi - A Life in the Woods." Walt Disney then turned the book into the movie, "Bambi."
January 1, 2022
The tone set in the first few chapters is markedly different from all other Salten books I’ve read thus far. The story centers around rabbits, so their stories are going to include a lot more death than others, as they are prey to so.many. other creatures. There are many many deaths throughout the book described both gently and (more often) graphically. (See content considerations below.) Overall it certainly wasn’t my favorite of Salten’s works. It ended with a hopeful note, but was overall a clear picture of the abuses suffered by these lowly, perpetually hunted creatures, which I suppose is the point. There is a tender chapter about Plana’s encounter with a dog that is very sweet. Hop grapples with his life as a weak, defenseless prey, and at one point wonders what would happen if all the prey of the forest banded together, but the line of thought remains unanswered. Wiki says that Salten wrote the story as an allegory for Jewish diaspora (stories about the exile). I definitely saw that throughout the book, but couldn’t help wondering if Salten was also referencing the genocide of the Jewish people during WWII. Lesson takeaways include seeing things from the oppressed view, the varied reactions to danger and persecution as modeled by Hop’s fellow rabbits, and how humans are prone to interfere in affairs of nature.
Spoilers—
Content considerations :
not 30 pages in and there are three graphically, realistically described violent deaths—a rabbit’s eyes are put out by crows before it is eaten, a rabbit is crushed to death by talon and beak blow by an owl, a deer is shot by a man and a stander-by rabbit is soaked in its blood. Just over halfway through the book, many more violent deaths between creatures have been described. There is a part where humans out hunting is detailed, with a very close up account of a pheasant dying. One rabbit is captured by a child and taken home. The entire event is described from the rabbit’s point of view and it is quite disturbing since the rabbit finds humans completely alien and horrifying. The eventual demise of this rabbit is described and it too is disturbing and accusing in its tone towards humans as the ultimate cause since they removed the poor rabbit from its proper home. Hunters encircle the rabbits at one point during winter, shooting many of them. The deaths are described in varying degrees of detail and graphicness and mentions of blood. One of the last chapters describes the touching death of a birch tree, dying alone in a hurricane.
Spoilers—
Content considerations :
not 30 pages in and there are three graphically, realistically described violent deaths—a rabbit’s eyes are put out by crows before it is eaten, a rabbit is crushed to death by talon and beak blow by an owl, a deer is shot by a man and a stander-by rabbit is soaked in its blood. Just over halfway through the book, many more violent deaths between creatures have been described. There is a part where humans out hunting is detailed, with a very close up account of a pheasant dying. One rabbit is captured by a child and taken home. The entire event is described from the rabbit’s point of view and it is quite disturbing since the rabbit finds humans completely alien and horrifying. The eventual demise of this rabbit is described and it too is disturbing and accusing in its tone towards humans as the ultimate cause since they removed the poor rabbit from its proper home. Hunters encircle the rabbits at one point during winter, shooting many of them. The deaths are described in varying degrees of detail and graphicness and mentions of blood. One of the last chapters describes the touching death of a birch tree, dying alone in a hurricane.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2021
Edit 14/01/2021
I'm a fool. Felix Salten was Jewish! The ruthless libertarian world that he portrayed was a refraction of his own lived reality, a Europe increasingly anti-Semitic through which cunning became a necessity to survival. No wonder every opportunity for pleasure is cut short until all that is left is fear and trembling.
Ugh. This is what happens when I fail to materially situate my consumption.
I need to reflect on this.
I'm going to leave my original review below for now. You can parse it however you like with the new information. (Something something fascist creep.)
//
The slow catastrophe of living. Probably still my favourite libertarian author; despite his vulgar Darwinism, he permits joy to arise in strange stutters across his world. He also has a lot of sympathy for the aberrant lifeforms that resist (his construction of) nature's war of all against all. In such a way, he provides alluring counterpoints to the very ontology he constructs; the way the birds, foxes, deer and rabbits rely on one another's warning calls to escape threats; the way an old, beat-up, domesticated dog will welcome the company of a young, beat-up, feral rabbit; and the way the humans are portrayed as demonic beings, whose most loving acts towards the feral animals are experienced, by the animals, as abject terror.
Unfortunately, a lot of this is already covered in Bambi, and with less sentimentality and death fixation. What was so powerful in Bambi was how indifferent the world felt; that no matter the pleasure or pain, everything moved onwards. Neither death nor life were elevated, everything was simply a process of estrangement and becoming. In Fifteen Rabbits, death and terror are privileged. There is less time for the characters to simply be and to become otherwise beyond the choke of dread.
One of my favourite parts, nonetheless, is Hop (the protagonist bun bun) philosophising in the middle of winter, about how if all the herbivores came together, they'd be able to fight off the carnivores. One starts to think that Salten is less a morose libertarian, and more a resigned socialist. . . .
I'm a fool. Felix Salten was Jewish! The ruthless libertarian world that he portrayed was a refraction of his own lived reality, a Europe increasingly anti-Semitic through which cunning became a necessity to survival. No wonder every opportunity for pleasure is cut short until all that is left is fear and trembling.
Ugh. This is what happens when I fail to materially situate my consumption.
I need to reflect on this.
I'm going to leave my original review below for now. You can parse it however you like with the new information. (Something something fascist creep.)
//
The slow catastrophe of living. Probably still my favourite libertarian author; despite his vulgar Darwinism, he permits joy to arise in strange stutters across his world. He also has a lot of sympathy for the aberrant lifeforms that resist (his construction of) nature's war of all against all. In such a way, he provides alluring counterpoints to the very ontology he constructs; the way the birds, foxes, deer and rabbits rely on one another's warning calls to escape threats; the way an old, beat-up, domesticated dog will welcome the company of a young, beat-up, feral rabbit; and the way the humans are portrayed as demonic beings, whose most loving acts towards the feral animals are experienced, by the animals, as abject terror.
Unfortunately, a lot of this is already covered in Bambi, and with less sentimentality and death fixation. What was so powerful in Bambi was how indifferent the world felt; that no matter the pleasure or pain, everything moved onwards. Neither death nor life were elevated, everything was simply a process of estrangement and becoming. In Fifteen Rabbits, death and terror are privileged. There is less time for the characters to simply be and to become otherwise beyond the choke of dread.
One of my favourite parts, nonetheless, is Hop (the protagonist bun bun) philosophising in the middle of winter, about how if all the herbivores came together, they'd be able to fight off the carnivores. One starts to think that Salten is less a morose libertarian, and more a resigned socialist. . . .
September 14, 2018
The only work by Felix Salten I had read before was Bambi, which has always been one of my favourite books, so I figured it was time to read some of his other books.
Fifteen Rabbits has a similar style to Bambi. It shows the beauty of nature, but also the inate cruelty of it. Like Bambi, its pretty dark at times and it is certainly not a fun bunny book to read to your children. There is a lot of death. It can make you feel sad, but it never gets overly emotional. It is just the way nature works.
I must address the translation. It is not the best. In German the translation for both hare and rabbit is hase. In the translation it refers to our main characters Hops and Plana as rabbits, but to Hops’ mother as a hare. Also, the deer in the story are referred to as elk, whilst in fact they would be red deer, as Salten would have been writing about European fauna.
Both Bambi and Faline get a cameo in the book, which was kind of fun.
I feel this story about some rabbits living in a forest throughout the seasons for the first time misses some of the magic of Bambi, but I did enjoy it and I am glad I read it.
Fifteen Rabbits has a similar style to Bambi. It shows the beauty of nature, but also the inate cruelty of it. Like Bambi, its pretty dark at times and it is certainly not a fun bunny book to read to your children. There is a lot of death. It can make you feel sad, but it never gets overly emotional. It is just the way nature works.
I must address the translation. It is not the best. In German the translation for both hare and rabbit is hase. In the translation it refers to our main characters Hops and Plana as rabbits, but to Hops’ mother as a hare. Also, the deer in the story are referred to as elk, whilst in fact they would be red deer, as Salten would have been writing about European fauna.
Both Bambi and Faline get a cameo in the book, which was kind of fun.
I feel this story about some rabbits living in a forest throughout the seasons for the first time misses some of the magic of Bambi, but I did enjoy it and I am glad I read it.
October 30, 2018
It wasn't until I started reading this that I realised it was written by the same man that brought Bambi into the world (I still have the emotional scars from those childhood moments!) and once again Salten is not shy about the realities of the natural world and man's ever increasing impact on it. The story, of course, starts on a bright carefree summer's day as 15 young rabbits are foraging in an open glade. Then, all too quickly, reality breaks their bliss and man makes his noisy and deadly entrance. From then on, the young friends have more than each other to compete and battle against as they get to grips with the dangers of the forest and the risk that even the younger members of humanity poises (let's hope many such youngsters have learnt from this). That being said, this is still a heart-warming story as friendships are forged and the young bunnies reach adulthood and discover that there is more to life than fear alone.
April 10, 2021
This one wasn't as bad as Renni the rescuer was for me - but it wasn't as good as Perri or Bambi - it was just... okay. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, I didn't find myself caring for any of them and there are so many deaths that it's just hard getting attached to anyone because they can die in a really graphic way at any time. I also thought that Hops would die by the end of the story because the ending got a little bit confusing and strange - but he didn't and I am glad that he didn't. Overall this is an okay book about animals - it's as violent as Salten's other books though. Animals die because the predators kill them, they can die from frost or hunger, one rabbit gets caught in a snare and dies a slow and painful death and there are several heart racing scenes where the hunters enter the forest and start killing the animals who have to run away and make it to safety before they get shot and die a slow and painful death. The dialogue was also a bit too old timey and confusing to me. I wasn't a fan of this one but it was still an okay quick read.
May 28, 2020
Being a fan of Felix’s two other books Bambi and Bambi’s children I was interested to read this one. It ever so briefly mentions characters from Bambi. And it was nice, sort of a bonus story if you like; of the animals of Bambi’s forest. I’d probably say it’s a little dark and while it says it’s for 8-12 year olds I’d probably wait till alittle older, and comfortable in the subject of life and natural order. Overall I’d give it a 4/5
October 7, 2023
A book primarily about the death of rabbits in cruel and terrible ways in the forest. The two main rabbits survived and hops mother and Fosco. Everyone else died. Not sure why it was called fifteen rabbits, as I feel like the # of rabbits dying in the story is far more than 15.
October 20, 2025
It was a really interesting and very well-written children’s animal chapter book. In my opinion, I think it’s one of the best Felix Salten animal books I’ve ever read in my whole life. I really recommend this book to both children and adults.
August 3, 2021
This didn't resonate with me the same way Bambi did, but it was still cool to read the sort of precursor to Watership Down.
June 4, 2018
Read May 2018
October 5, 2016
This is a sweet little book but it's also very sad. I'm not sure I would classify it as a children's book because many of the events depicted are simply the harsh realities of living in the wild. Rabbits particularly are at the bottom of the pecking order for they eat no living creature, quite unlike many of their forest companions. Even the birds prey on live worms and insects. And in their naivety, the rabbits don't understand why they are hunted since they hurt no other animals. The book follows the lives of two rabbits in their first year of life, struggling to survive amidst all the unknowns that come their way: being prey for other animals, the cruel harshness of winter, and the ever present danger of "He." This is a beautifully written book, as was "Bambi" also by Felix Salten. The ways in which Mr. Salten describes the difficult passages in the lives of forest animals will bring you joy and sadness at the same time. As simple a book as it is, it is filled with an emotion that often left me breathless at the end of a chapter. One final note.....I found myself wondering if Richard Adams drew any of his understanding of rabbits and their environment from the stories in this book when he wrote "Watership Down." Perhaps I'll write him to find out!
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December 31, 2015A re-read. I've always appreciated Salten's way of making you feel like the animal. He brings the feelings of what it means to be a rabbit in an often harsh world. Salten deals very much in the realities and fears that rabbits are plagued with. His works bring a sense of empathy towards the smaller creatures we may happen across daily.
June 26, 2016
When I found this book in the community book box on my street, I thought it was a light-hearted children's book about happy bunnies. It is not. Favorite line of dialogue: "'Blood,' piped the weasel, 'blood! Have any of you any idea how delicious it tastes?'"
An enjoyable -- and highly quotable -- read.
An enjoyable -- and highly quotable -- read.
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June 5, 2022DNF AT 38%.
Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily think this is a bad book, I just didn't connect with the "characters" and I didn't find the story itself very interesting. So in the end I decided not to continue reading this book because I just didn't care.
I think Bambi and Bambi's Children are much better stories, so I would recommend checking those books out if anyone is interested.
Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily think this is a bad book, I just didn't connect with the "characters" and I didn't find the story itself very interesting. So in the end I decided not to continue reading this book because I just didn't care.
I think Bambi and Bambi's Children are much better stories, so I would recommend checking those books out if anyone is interested.
May 28, 2015
I have a used copy of this book, given to me by my grandfather who passed away in 1992. His name is on a sticker in the inside front cover. Above his name is the statement "THE POETRY OF EARTH IS NEVER DEAD". I cherish this amazing book.
March 19, 2014
Very good, I'd like to read the 1930's unrevised version, I only have the 1942 Revised edition. I feel I can detect changes that don't fit the general story, I'll update this when I read the original.
July 21, 2012
Classic book from the guy who did Bambi. Classic, DEPRESSING AS HELL book from the guy who did Bambi.
June 3, 2020
Watership Down... but with hares. Despite the title, ironically.
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
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June 19, 2016Beautifully written but terribly depressing.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews