Wild Animals I Have Known

The first entry in a new genre of realistic wild-animal fiction, Wild Animals I Have Known, Seton’s first collection of short stories quickly became one of the most popular books of its day. 'Lobo the King of Currumpaw', the first story in the collection, was based upon Seton’s experience hunting wolves in the southwestern United States.It became a classic, setting the tone for his future works that would similarly depict animals-especially predators who were often demonized in literature-as compassionate, individualistic beings.Several years after its publication, Seton and his works came under fire during the nature fakers controversy, which began in 1903 when naturalist John Burroughs published an essay called 'Real and Sham Natural History' in The Atlantic Monthly. In particular Burroughs blamed Seton’s collection of stories for founding the sentimental animal story genre, which he felt featured fabricated events and wild animal behaviors; he even amended the title of the collection to Wild Animals I Alone Have Known.In This Book: Lobo, the King of Currumpaw Silverspot, the Story of a Crow Raggylug, the Story of a Cottontail Rabbit Bingo, the Story of My Dog The Springfield Fox The Pacing Mustang Wully, the Story of a Yaller Dog Redruff, the Story of the Don Valley Partridge THESE STORIES are true. Although I have left the strict line of historical truth in many places, the animals in this book were all real characters. They lived the lives I have depicted, and showed the stamp of heroism and personality more strongly by far than it has been in the power of my pen to tell.