Discover the extraordinary story of connection and resilience in "Fox and I," an acclaimed memoir that has captivated readers worldwide. Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, the 2022 Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal, and shortlisted for the John Burroughs Medal, this compelling narrative has also been a finalist for the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize and a Reading the West Book Award. An instant New York Times bestseller, it has been recognized as a Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year, a 2021 Summer Reading Pick by Buzzfeed, and featured in reviews by The New York Times Book Review, Kirkus, Time, Good Morning America, People, and The Washington Post.
This memoir offers a tender and insightful look into the friendship between a solitary woman and a wild fox. Catherine Raven, a biologist who completed her PhD, built a small cottage on an isolated plot of land in Montana. Emotionally and physically isolated, she viewed her home as a temporary refuge where she could gather her strength and prepare for a future career. During this time, she taught remotely and led field classes in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
Her life changed unexpectedly when she noticed a mangy-looking fox appearing on her property every afternoon at 4:15 p.m. Having never had a regular visitor before, she wondered how to communicate with such a creature. She brought out her camping chair, sat close to him as she dared, and began reading to him from "The Little Prince." Despite her scientific training that cautioned against anthropomorphizing animals, she gradually discovered the fox’s personality, and their relationship deepened into a genuine friendship.
Through her interactions with the fox, Catherine learned a profound lesson about loneliness: we are never truly alone when we are connected to the natural world. However, she also recognizes that friends cannot shield us from the uncontrollable forces of nature. "Fox and I" is a poignant and remarkable tale of friendship, personal growth, and coping with inevitable loss—showing how such loss can be transformed into meaning. It is a timely reflection on solitude and belonging, as well as a timeless story of how immersion in the natural world can alter our perception of our surroundings—each tree, weed, flower, stone, or fox becomes a source of wonder and connection.