The Story of a Red Deer

This story is 90 years old and is rather Victorian in its outlook. Clearly the publishers have taken a gamble republishing it, in the hope that the ageless nature of the subject and its life will outweigh the rather ponderous and anachronistic style of the prose. Success is partial. On the one hand there is the thrilling insight into Exmoor wild life as seen through the eyes of a developing stag, on the other is the pedantic use of vocabulary and large chunks of indigestible Devon brogue. Top junior animal lovers may remain faithful to the story, but for many the book may prove too challenging.