Bambi, a Life in the Woods is a book by Austro-Hungarian author Felix Salten, and was first published in 1923. The novel begins with Bambi's birth and early childhood, where he enjoys a carefree life with his mother. He meets other animals in the forest, including his cousins Faline and Gobo, as well as friends like Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk. As Bambi grows, he learns about the harsh realities of the forest when his mother teaches him about 'He' (what the animals call humans), who are dangerous and unpredictable. This warning is tragically reinforced when Bambi's mother is killed by a hunter, leaving Bambi to fend for himself. Bambi has been interpreted as a parable for the persecution of Jews in Europe, especially considering the context in which Salten, an Austrian Jew, wrote the novel. The book has had many adaptations, the most famous one being Disney's animated film.
