Jim Kjelgaard (1910–1959)
Author of Big Red
About the Author
Series
Works by Jim Kjelgaard
The Wild Horse Roundup: A Collection Of Stories By Members Of Western Writers Of America (2012) 3 copies
Hound Dogs and Others 1 copy
Duck-Footed Hound 1 copy
"Horses for the Cavalry" 1 copy
"The Lieutenant's Horse" 1 copy
Associated Works
The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories: Twenty-Five Outstanding Stories by Distinguished Authors (1965) — Contributor — 167 copies, 1 review
Argosy, January 7, 1939 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Kjelgaard, James Arthur
- Other names
- Elgard, Jim
- Birthdate
- 1910-12-06
- Date of death
- 1959-07-12
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Syracuse University
- Occupations
- park ranger
trapper
teamster
guide
factory worker
laborer (show all 9)
surveyor (assistant)
plumber (apprentice)
children's book author - Short biography
- James Arthur Kjelgaard imbued each of his many books for children with his two great loves: nature and dogs. Although born in New York City, he spent his childhood living on farms located in the Allegheny Mountain Range that runs through the state of Pennsylvania. Combining his personal experiences of the wild country he know as a boy with the animals he came to know and love, Kjelgaard wrote many popular animal stories for children before his untimely death at the age of forty-eight. As a young man, Kjelgaard held various jobs--trapper, laborer, and surveyor’s assistant--but in 1938, at age twenty-eight, he decided to focus his energies on writing stories for children. He began setting down his own recollections of the woodland regions of North American and from there fashioned stories featuring colorful, enigmatic characters long with, of course, dogs. "Story hunts have led me from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and from the Arctic Circle to Mexico City," Kjelgaard
once wrote in Young Wings. "Stories, like gold, are where
you find them. You may discover one three thousand miles from home or . . . right on your own doorstep." Kjelgaard’s "story hunts" yielded a wealth of colorful
tales which continue to bring his great love of both the wilderness and his many canine friends to life for young readers.
Contemporary Authors Gale
He was the son of a physician - Cause of death
- suicide
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Galeton, Pennsylvania, USA
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA - Place of death
- Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Burial location
- Wisconsin Memorial Park, Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
Star - so named because of the star-shaped patch of white fur on his chest - was an inquisitive young fox with a nose for adventure, and a talent for getting himself out of tight spots. When his raids on the farms in the valley, and subsequent ability to elude his hunters, earn him the sobriquet 'Haunt Fox' - "A "haunt" fox was an especially elusive one, a beast with ghost-like qualities," the narrator informs the reader - he becomes the prime quarry for all the eager fox-hunters of the show more area, from grim woodsman Dade Matson to adolescent farm-boy Jack Crowley. As Star pursues his own path in the wild - ranging far abroad to avoid an outbreak of rabies, finding and mating with the she-fox Vixen, providing for his first family of cubs - Jack yearns to bring him down, thereby winning a reputation as a hunter, and proving the worth of his hound, Thunder. But when the boy and fox do finally meet, the outcome is unexpected...
Originally published in 1954, Haunt Fox is one of Jim Kjelgaard's many stories featuring animal characters - the author's dog books, from Big Red to Snow Dog, are perhaps amongst his best-known work - who are realistically depicted in their natural setting. Although long aware of the author's reputation, I had never before picked up one of his books, and wasn't sure just what to expect. As someone who believes that subsistence hunting is justifiable, but finds sport hunting morally deranged, I was worried that the author would glorify hunting in a way I found unpleasant - that the focus would be on killing the animal as a kind of victory for the boy. What I discovered instead was that, although the author does indeed depict hunting as a noble activity, he by no means finds all hunting or hunters admirable. Dade Matson, who makes his living from the woods, is depicted as a cold and mercenary man, one who has no real interest in the animals he kills, save as a means to earning money. Jack Crowley, on the other hand, is depicted as a hunter who appreciates the cunning of his foe, the loyalty and perseverance of his dog, and the pleasure of the hunt itself. What seems to separate good hunters from bad hunters, in Kjelgaard's view, is joy: Dade Matson's hunt is all about the outcome, the killing; whereas Jack and Thunder's hunt is all about the process, about pitting one's skills against a worthy adversary. And so it is that when Jack finds Star caught in one of Dade Matson's many traps, while pursuing him through the snowy forest,he sets him free, rather than killing him . This was not the outcome I was expecting, and left me with a great deal to ponder. I enjoyed this tale immensely, largely because I found Star, whose narrative predominates, such an engaging character, but also because the unexpected complexity in the depiction of hunters and hunting gave me something to think about. Wholeheartedly recommended to young readers who enjoy animal stories, or to anyone who appreciates tales about clever foxes. show less
Originally published in 1954, Haunt Fox is one of Jim Kjelgaard's many stories featuring animal characters - the author's dog books, from Big Red to Snow Dog, are perhaps amongst his best-known work - who are realistically depicted in their natural setting. Although long aware of the author's reputation, I had never before picked up one of his books, and wasn't sure just what to expect. As someone who believes that subsistence hunting is justifiable, but finds sport hunting morally deranged, I was worried that the author would glorify hunting in a way I found unpleasant - that the focus would be on killing the animal as a kind of victory for the boy. What I discovered instead was that, although the author does indeed depict hunting as a noble activity, he by no means finds all hunting or hunters admirable. Dade Matson, who makes his living from the woods, is depicted as a cold and mercenary man, one who has no real interest in the animals he kills, save as a means to earning money. Jack Crowley, on the other hand, is depicted as a hunter who appreciates the cunning of his foe, the loyalty and perseverance of his dog, and the pleasure of the hunt itself. What seems to separate good hunters from bad hunters, in Kjelgaard's view, is joy: Dade Matson's hunt is all about the outcome, the killing; whereas Jack and Thunder's hunt is all about the process, about pitting one's skills against a worthy adversary. And so it is that when Jack finds Star caught in one of Dade Matson's many traps, while pursuing him through the snowy forest,
I am going to give this book 4 stars because I am not a fan of the villains in the story being dogs. The hero dog is Tawny, a large Greyhound whose handler has died. He wanders off into the desert.
In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.
I spent show more half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.
In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:
Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.
For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)
Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:
It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.
Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.
Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life. show less
In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.
I spent show more half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.
In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:
Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.
For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)
Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:
It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.
Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.
Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life. show less
An enjoyable book. If you are really into hunting ducks, fishing, camping, boating and aspects of nature, you would like it more. If you are triggered by hunting, then find another book. The aspects on hunting are balanced by a strong conservation ethic. The book is mostly taken up with those details of nature and hunting, with the story part involving a threat and then a murder not really taking up many pages. Kjelgaard does a really good job with the hunting, fishing, etc., parts though. show more You can tell from the pleasure he takes on describing the different aspects of ducks alone. For those of us who are city folk, it is nice to read about nature from someone who loves it.
The dog is an outlaw, so for a second I thought, did I start his Outlaw book? But no, I think I have the book 'Outlaw Red' but haven't read it yet (and can't seem to find it). I do want to read all of his dog books. Anyway, the dog part is good in the book but wish there was even more. Not too over the top saying the dog is the best ever like a Terhune book, but I especially liked good story of Stormy retrieving a wounded canvasback 'diving duck' to prove what a great retriever the dog is.
As an example of the prose in the book involving nature, I wanted to share this paragraph from the book:
Drifting out of the black sky, it was a far-carrying and haunting cry. The first hairy man who heard that sound had tilted his head to search out its source, and it has touched a sensitive chord in human beings ever since. It was the voice of freedom unlimited, the incarnation of nature itself, the sound and song of fond dreams: the cry of the northbound wild geese. show less
The dog is an outlaw, so for a second I thought, did I start his Outlaw book? But no, I think I have the book 'Outlaw Red' but haven't read it yet (and can't seem to find it). I do want to read all of his dog books. Anyway, the dog part is good in the book but wish there was even more. Not too over the top saying the dog is the best ever like a Terhune book, but I especially liked good story of Stormy retrieving a wounded canvasback 'diving duck' to prove what a great retriever the dog is.
As an example of the prose in the book involving nature, I wanted to share this paragraph from the book:
Drifting out of the black sky, it was a far-carrying and haunting cry. The first hairy man who heard that sound had tilted his head to search out its source, and it has touched a sensitive chord in human beings ever since. It was the voice of freedom unlimited, the incarnation of nature itself, the sound and song of fond dreams: the cry of the northbound wild geese. show less
I just happened to come across an audiobook of this story recently, when I needed something to listen to. What a great story! I’ve loved Jim Kjelgaard’s works for years; he does an excellent job capturing the hearts and temperaments of the animals he writes about and has an excellent grasp on people and what makes them tick. I also love his description of nature—you feel like you’re there when you’re reading his books.
This was a fascinating story. There was a bit of mystery, some show more danger, and a lot of adventure in this short book. It’s perfect for children who don’t mind seeing a little of the realities of life, and love a good animal story. It also has a fascinating theme of forgiveness vs. greediness—I enjoyed seeing how that worked out in the story. Overall, a great read. If I ever find a print copy, I’ll be picking it up! show less
This was a fascinating story. There was a bit of mystery, some show more danger, and a lot of adventure in this short book. It’s perfect for children who don’t mind seeing a little of the realities of life, and love a good animal story. It also has a fascinating theme of forgiveness vs. greediness—I enjoyed seeing how that worked out in the story. Overall, a great read. If I ever find a print copy, I’ll be picking it up! show less
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- Works
- 66
- Also by
- 11
- Members
- 8,279
- Popularity
- #2,920
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 121
- ISBNs
- 240
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