The Fox and the Hound (novel)
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The Fox and the Hound is a 1967 novel by Daniel Pratt Mannix IV. It follows the lives of two protagonists pitted against each other; a half-bloodhound named Copper and a red fox named Tod. The novel is Mannix's best-known work, and the Walt Disney Productions film The Fox and the Hound is based on the novel.
The book alternates between Copper and Tod's point of view; of the ten chapters in the book, four are from Copper's perspective and six are from Tod's. Both of the animal protagonists are presented as reasonably intelligent if not on a level with humans, and the book constantly emphasizes the point that both are creatures who rely on their sense of smell as much as humans rely on sight, particularly Copper.
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The novel follows Tod from his first contact with humans as a kit and Copper from his first encounter with Tod. They are living in a changing world; the wilderness present at the beginning of the book gradually gives way to a more urbanized setting, causing problems for Copper, his Master, and Tod.
Copper's chapters focus on his relationship with his Master as he assists him in hunting, primarily for Tod; Tod's actions kill the Master's favorite dog early in the novel. Tod's chapters focus on his life as a wild fox, avoiding death both natural and man-made while attempting to father pups. The novel ends with the death of both main characters. Tod's lifeless pelt is hung and Copper is shot by his owner.
