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Raising Hare: A Memoir
A moving and fascinating meditation on freedom, trust, loss, and our relationship with the natural world, explored through the story of one woman’s unlikely friendship with a wild hare.
Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, over two years later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for hours on end and gave birth to leverets in your study. For political advisor and speechwriter Chloe Dalton, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside, far away from her usual busy London life, this became her unexpected reality.
In February 2021, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how impossible it is to rear a wild hare, most of whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error, she learns to feed and care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead, it becomes her constant companion, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes, stoats, feral cats, raptors, and even people, she never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves, Chloe knows she may never see it again. Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death.
Raising Hare chronicles their journey together, while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of hares, and the way they have been viewed historically in art, literature, and folklore. We witness first-hand the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal, which serves as a reminder that the best things, and most beautiful experiences, arise when we least expect them.
Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, over two years later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for hours on end and gave birth to leverets in your study. For political advisor and speechwriter Chloe Dalton, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside, far away from her usual busy London life, this became her unexpected reality.
In February 2021, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how impossible it is to rear a wild hare, most of whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error, she learns to feed and care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead, it becomes her constant companion, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes, stoats, feral cats, raptors, and even people, she never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves, Chloe knows she may never see it again. Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death.
Raising Hare chronicles their journey together, while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of hares, and the way they have been viewed historically in art, literature, and folklore. We witness first-hand the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal, which serves as a reminder that the best things, and most beautiful experiences, arise when we least expect them.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
805 people are currently reading
23.1k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 737 reviews
April 25, 2025
Over the years, there have been some classic autobiographical books that have celebrated the human connection with the natural world - in particular with different animals. Classics that spring to mind include : Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell; H for Hawk for Helen Mac Donald anreven My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.
Raising Hare deserves to join this illustrious group. Chloe Dalton has written a highly engaging and beautiful memoir/chronicle about her experiences of rescuing a baby hare /leveret and the ensuing years of their connection.
Abandoned by its mother on a footpath during Covid lockdown Chloe discovers this tiny creature - a new born hare- should she leave it or try to save it from an imminent death?
Decision made, the leveret is taken home but with constant understanding that this is a wild creature not to be domesticated; what follows is the moving story of Chloe's quest to help the hare, enable it to return to the wild and the incredible and mysterious connection that develops between the two of them. The Hare continues to live close to the house and take refuge in a most unexpected way.
Chloe Dalton shines a life on this enigmatic and rarely seen animal and uncovers through her observations the habits and wonderful qualities of Hare as it grows older and its offspring. The story also echoes the seasonal changes and its impact on wildlife as well as exploring the human impact of mass agriculture upon the natural world.
Told over three years, Raising Hare is a truly moving and wonderful read. This is a story about a unique bond -written with warmth - not sentimental- and compassion for an animal that is in decline as it has no legal protection. It also shows how the human /natural environment connection and just slowing down gives an improved quality of life and sense of being.
Maybe Chloe Dalton's book could change perception and highlight the need to save this beautiful creature.
Wildlife read of 2024... superb!
Raising Hare deserves to join this illustrious group. Chloe Dalton has written a highly engaging and beautiful memoir/chronicle about her experiences of rescuing a baby hare /leveret and the ensuing years of their connection.
Abandoned by its mother on a footpath during Covid lockdown Chloe discovers this tiny creature - a new born hare- should she leave it or try to save it from an imminent death?
Decision made, the leveret is taken home but with constant understanding that this is a wild creature not to be domesticated; what follows is the moving story of Chloe's quest to help the hare, enable it to return to the wild and the incredible and mysterious connection that develops between the two of them. The Hare continues to live close to the house and take refuge in a most unexpected way.
Chloe Dalton shines a life on this enigmatic and rarely seen animal and uncovers through her observations the habits and wonderful qualities of Hare as it grows older and its offspring. The story also echoes the seasonal changes and its impact on wildlife as well as exploring the human impact of mass agriculture upon the natural world.
Told over three years, Raising Hare is a truly moving and wonderful read. This is a story about a unique bond -written with warmth - not sentimental- and compassion for an animal that is in decline as it has no legal protection. It also shows how the human /natural environment connection and just slowing down gives an improved quality of life and sense of being.
Maybe Chloe Dalton's book could change perception and highlight the need to save this beautiful creature.
Wildlife read of 2024... superb!
Want to read
March 28, 2025Like Dalton with her hare, I found this book in the wild and brought it home with me. Unlike Dalton, I am not fit to nurture as an exceptionally leaky Pancheros burrito marinated my copy that same day. I now have Raising Hare Con Jugo de Frijol.
Having said that, I did, years ago, frequently feed a rabbit I saw every morning upon returning home from work. I named him Günter Grass.
Having said that, I did, years ago, frequently feed a rabbit I saw every morning upon returning home from work. I named him Günter Grass.
July 25, 2024
This is a tough one to review. I loved the subject matter but the execution left me wanting. Given the other reviews, I think this might be a case of the author’s style being a mismatch for my personal taste rather than anything else.
What worked for me:
🐇 The premise of this book was intriguing and I was keen to hear about Dalton’s experience. I liked that she didn’t just scoop up the baby but gave the mother opportunity to return for her without going all ‘free bun� about it but some of her other actions did frustrate me later on.
🐇 Illustrations in the book were absolutely stunning!
🐇 As an enthusiastic planetary stewardship advocate, I am thrilled that Dalton has become more in tune with nature and has used this story to highlight the perils of wildlife at the hands of humans. Anything that increases the reach of this message and drives awareness is worth doing.
What I wasn’t so keen on:
🐇 Structure and style: Info dumpy fact sections and focus on hares in literature felt like filler. The experience the author had raising the hare was, particularly at the beginning, overpowered by pages and pages of fiction and history excerpts. We’d spend half a page on what felt like a random tangent - like on the difference between hares and cats - you know, that classic mix-up - which just added to the feeling of padding. The overwrought descriptions, the info dumping, copy-pasted quotes from literature, and tangents interrupted flow of the author’s experience (the reason we’re reading the book!). The writing style felt stilted and, at times, pompous which I didn’t gel with as a reader. It didn’t have the warmth of many of my favourite nature books but felt clinical in execution. Another element that I found distracting was how present the author was in the story: Early on, it becomes evident that the author has an alarming preoccupation with their job that bleeds into this story excessively. It’s evident that the job is the main priority and, while there’s a bit of acknowledgement of this mid-way through the book, I think a lot of the job stuff should have been cut - it doesn’t add anything. Your readers are here for the hares!
🐇 Author’s naïvety: As a reader who grew up rurally in Canada, none of the author’s revelations were news to me (prey animals don’t like feeling penned in! keeping nature away from your garden is probably not going to work! animals can be creatures of habit! human urbanization threatens the habitats of wild beings!). For someone who claimed to have a pet rabbit when they were younger, the author is very naïve when it comes to lagomorph care: trying to feed them bread, picking them up, not knowing they’re crepuscular critters, being surprised that they go for the spicy hay (power cords) and chew pretty much anything. “I was always troubled by the possibility that proximity to humans might have taken the edge of its natural instincts� says human who rushes to the rescue at every perceived threat and constantly scoops the hare up. 🙃 Real talk: I wanted to scream “stop interfering!� so many times during this read.
🐇 Dalton spends a lot of time describing actions, appearances, and places in great detail. As a reader, I would have valued more illustrations or photos over paragraphs of flowery descriptions.
Obligatory PSA: Have you found a baby animal? An injured bird or animal? Call your local wildlife rehab clinic for advice. The critter might not need help but if they do, leave it to the pros. Don’t try to “save� them, keep them as a pet, or raise them yourself. They’re living, wild beings with complex needs that may need specialist care. Good intentions can cause deep harm - please always get the advice of a wildlife expert before intervening with a young or injured wild animal.
⚠️ Content Caution: For humans who love or steward the care of lagomorphs, some of the hunting, farming, and consumption history may be distressing. There are a lot of grisly descriptions of hare cruelty and deaths within these pages. Be kind to yourself.
If you’ve spent time with lagomorphs, or spent time observing the natural world, you may not get much out of this. For readers who enjoy Katherine Rundell’s style or those new to the joy of lagomorphs, I heartily encourage you to check this out!
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you, Canongate.
What worked for me:
🐇 The premise of this book was intriguing and I was keen to hear about Dalton’s experience. I liked that she didn’t just scoop up the baby but gave the mother opportunity to return for her without going all ‘free bun� about it but some of her other actions did frustrate me later on.
🐇 Illustrations in the book were absolutely stunning!
🐇 As an enthusiastic planetary stewardship advocate, I am thrilled that Dalton has become more in tune with nature and has used this story to highlight the perils of wildlife at the hands of humans. Anything that increases the reach of this message and drives awareness is worth doing.
What I wasn’t so keen on:
🐇 Structure and style: Info dumpy fact sections and focus on hares in literature felt like filler. The experience the author had raising the hare was, particularly at the beginning, overpowered by pages and pages of fiction and history excerpts. We’d spend half a page on what felt like a random tangent - like on the difference between hares and cats - you know, that classic mix-up - which just added to the feeling of padding. The overwrought descriptions, the info dumping, copy-pasted quotes from literature, and tangents interrupted flow of the author’s experience (the reason we’re reading the book!). The writing style felt stilted and, at times, pompous which I didn’t gel with as a reader. It didn’t have the warmth of many of my favourite nature books but felt clinical in execution. Another element that I found distracting was how present the author was in the story: Early on, it becomes evident that the author has an alarming preoccupation with their job that bleeds into this story excessively. It’s evident that the job is the main priority and, while there’s a bit of acknowledgement of this mid-way through the book, I think a lot of the job stuff should have been cut - it doesn’t add anything. Your readers are here for the hares!
🐇 Author’s naïvety: As a reader who grew up rurally in Canada, none of the author’s revelations were news to me (prey animals don’t like feeling penned in! keeping nature away from your garden is probably not going to work! animals can be creatures of habit! human urbanization threatens the habitats of wild beings!). For someone who claimed to have a pet rabbit when they were younger, the author is very naïve when it comes to lagomorph care: trying to feed them bread, picking them up, not knowing they’re crepuscular critters, being surprised that they go for the spicy hay (power cords) and chew pretty much anything. “I was always troubled by the possibility that proximity to humans might have taken the edge of its natural instincts� says human who rushes to the rescue at every perceived threat and constantly scoops the hare up. 🙃 Real talk: I wanted to scream “stop interfering!� so many times during this read.
🐇 Dalton spends a lot of time describing actions, appearances, and places in great detail. As a reader, I would have valued more illustrations or photos over paragraphs of flowery descriptions.
Obligatory PSA: Have you found a baby animal? An injured bird or animal? Call your local wildlife rehab clinic for advice. The critter might not need help but if they do, leave it to the pros. Don’t try to “save� them, keep them as a pet, or raise them yourself. They’re living, wild beings with complex needs that may need specialist care. Good intentions can cause deep harm - please always get the advice of a wildlife expert before intervening with a young or injured wild animal.
⚠️ Content Caution: For humans who love or steward the care of lagomorphs, some of the hunting, farming, and consumption history may be distressing. There are a lot of grisly descriptions of hare cruelty and deaths within these pages. Be kind to yourself.
If you’ve spent time with lagomorphs, or spent time observing the natural world, you may not get much out of this. For readers who enjoy Katherine Rundell’s style or those new to the joy of lagomorphs, I heartily encourage you to check this out!
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you, Canongate.
March 24, 2025
A short, sweet, meditative sort of memoir by a woman who, unexpectedly stuck in the English countryside during the pandemic, rescued(?) a newborn leveret from the side of the road. She learned that hares have never been domesticated and generally do not survive under human care, but with no going back now, resolved to care for the leveret and return it to the wild. Happily, she succeeded, and since “the wild� in this case meant “just beyond my garden fence,� the hare did not go far and regularly returned for food and to raise its own young. This left the author with ample opportunity to learn more about hares and gain a new respect for the natural world.
I enjoyed this. It’s well-written, and Dalton is thoughtful, owns her mistakes, and is committed to doing right by the hare without trying to own it. Sometimes her commitment goes impressively far (leaving a door to her home open, permanently? While crime and insects don’t seem to be problems in her area and she doesn’t mind the occasional intrusion of other wildlife, what about the electricity usage?). But a memoir about your relationship with an animal is the place where everyone is rooting for you to take it as far as possible. With the help of some great illustrations, she brings the hare to life as an adorable and impressive creature, and the reader learns a lot about them.
Hares, as it turns out, are quite different from rabbits, and can’t interbreed with them—though they are called jackrabbits in the U.S. (where they apparently only live in western states), further adding to the confusion. Most startling perhaps is that they have no nests or burrows, but simply give birth to their leverets in places of moderate shelter such as grassy fields or under a bush, then immediately leave them behind (though tending to stay close by to scare off predators). The leverets will hide all day, at some distance from one another, while the mother comes to feed them at night and then leaps away to avoid leaving a scent trail.
At any rate, generous margins and spacing make a very quick read of an already slim page count. And it’s a nice book, making for pleasant, engaging and educational reading. Well worth the time I spent with it.
I enjoyed this. It’s well-written, and Dalton is thoughtful, owns her mistakes, and is committed to doing right by the hare without trying to own it. Sometimes her commitment goes impressively far (leaving a door to her home open, permanently? While crime and insects don’t seem to be problems in her area and she doesn’t mind the occasional intrusion of other wildlife, what about the electricity usage?). But a memoir about your relationship with an animal is the place where everyone is rooting for you to take it as far as possible. With the help of some great illustrations, she brings the hare to life as an adorable and impressive creature, and the reader learns a lot about them.
Hares, as it turns out, are quite different from rabbits, and can’t interbreed with them—though they are called jackrabbits in the U.S. (where they apparently only live in western states), further adding to the confusion. Most startling perhaps is that they have no nests or burrows, but simply give birth to their leverets in places of moderate shelter such as grassy fields or under a bush, then immediately leave them behind (though tending to stay close by to scare off predators). The leverets will hide all day, at some distance from one another, while the mother comes to feed them at night and then leaps away to avoid leaving a scent trail.
At any rate, generous margins and spacing make a very quick read of an already slim page count. And it’s a nice book, making for pleasant, engaging and educational reading. Well worth the time I spent with it.
March 26, 2025
A lovely little tribute to the world we share with animals (especially hares).🐰
"Each day brought new aspects of the growing leveret's behaviour at which to marvel, and I found myself drawn, against all my previous interests and inclinations, into the desire to discover everything I could about it."
Chloe Dalton's life was upended when she stumbled upon an orphaned baby animal. She loves city life, and her career as a political advisor often sees her traveling the globe for work. During the COVID pandemic, however, she retreated to the countryside. While there, she discovered an abandoned leveret (aka a baby hare, also known as a jackrabbit in the States).
Dalton had reason to believe the leveret's mother had been killed, and it was huddled in the road, unwilling to move, where it would surely be run over, so she decided to bring it home with her. She soon learned that leverets raised by humans have a very low survival rate. This woman who loved being able to travel at a moment's notice suddenly found herself housebound and latched to a small, vulnerable animal whose life depended on her.
Much to Dalton's dismay, she discovered there’s plenty of information out there on how to hunt, kill or, cook hares. But there’s very little on how to keep them alive. In Raising Hare, she charts her experience raising the hare, shares what she learned about these marvelous little animals, and reveals how her time with the hare changed her perception of the natural world. Effectively, she wrote the book that she desperately needed when she was struggling to help the leveret survive.
While raising the hare, Dalton remained firm in her understanding that it was a wild animal, so she did not name it. It remains "it" or "the hare" until it's gender is revealed, after which other pronouns are used, but still no name. I understand why Dalton chose not to name the hare and would even argue that she made the right move, but I found that it created a sense of detachment for me while reading.
It's fine to read that a hare ran around her living room yesterday and is running around her living room today, and tomorrow she will read how far hares travel in a day and share that information with us, but I think I would have cared more if Aayla had been running around the living room, or Bernard sniffed hesitantly at the oats, or Quill looked back at Dalton with soul-filled eyes. That's probably just a me problem though.
Overall, Dalton gives a tender, moving account of her time raising the hare, and she beautifully conveys her growing appreciation for our connection with animals. She also urges us to consider the myriad ways humans disrupt the natural world and inevitably hurt wildlife. When you pair that with the books lovely end pages and charming illustrations, the result is a book that would make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates the natural world.
"Each day brought new aspects of the growing leveret's behaviour at which to marvel, and I found myself drawn, against all my previous interests and inclinations, into the desire to discover everything I could about it."
Chloe Dalton's life was upended when she stumbled upon an orphaned baby animal. She loves city life, and her career as a political advisor often sees her traveling the globe for work. During the COVID pandemic, however, she retreated to the countryside. While there, she discovered an abandoned leveret (aka a baby hare, also known as a jackrabbit in the States).
Dalton had reason to believe the leveret's mother had been killed, and it was huddled in the road, unwilling to move, where it would surely be run over, so she decided to bring it home with her. She soon learned that leverets raised by humans have a very low survival rate. This woman who loved being able to travel at a moment's notice suddenly found herself housebound and latched to a small, vulnerable animal whose life depended on her.
Much to Dalton's dismay, she discovered there’s plenty of information out there on how to hunt, kill or, cook hares. But there’s very little on how to keep them alive. In Raising Hare, she charts her experience raising the hare, shares what she learned about these marvelous little animals, and reveals how her time with the hare changed her perception of the natural world. Effectively, she wrote the book that she desperately needed when she was struggling to help the leveret survive.
While raising the hare, Dalton remained firm in her understanding that it was a wild animal, so she did not name it. It remains "it" or "the hare" until it's gender is revealed, after which other pronouns are used, but still no name. I understand why Dalton chose not to name the hare and would even argue that she made the right move, but I found that it created a sense of detachment for me while reading.
It's fine to read that a hare ran around her living room yesterday and is running around her living room today, and tomorrow she will read how far hares travel in a day and share that information with us, but I think I would have cared more if Aayla had been running around the living room, or Bernard sniffed hesitantly at the oats, or Quill looked back at Dalton with soul-filled eyes. That's probably just a me problem though.
Overall, Dalton gives a tender, moving account of her time raising the hare, and she beautifully conveys her growing appreciation for our connection with animals. She also urges us to consider the myriad ways humans disrupt the natural world and inevitably hurt wildlife. When you pair that with the books lovely end pages and charming illustrations, the result is a book that would make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates the natural world.
March 6, 2025
Such a wonderful story and so much more than I expected. The anecdotes and the unexpected turn of events that occurred along the way make it even more pleasurable. I was so totally invested in this little hare that I could not read too much in one go as I was so worried about its survival but all ends well.
This is not just a straightforward story about saving a hare, it is about what the hare (who is purposefully never named or made a pet) gave back to the author. The overall message was about slowing down and becoming aware of our natural environment and our contribution to the local ecosystem. So many valuable lessons that made me more aware of my own surroundings as I was reading.
A worthy 5 * and thoroughly recommended to all my GR friends ☺️
This is not just a straightforward story about saving a hare, it is about what the hare (who is purposefully never named or made a pet) gave back to the author. The overall message was about slowing down and becoming aware of our natural environment and our contribution to the local ecosystem. So many valuable lessons that made me more aware of my own surroundings as I was reading.
A worthy 5 * and thoroughly recommended to all my GR friends ☺️
March 12, 2025
When the Covid pandemic resulted in a lockdown in Britain, Chloe Dalton, a political advisor and frequent international traveler, decided to leave her place in London and go to the farm she had in the country, nothing fancy but a place she vacationed. Little did she know that this was to be a life altering experience in unexpected ways.
One day, while walking near her home, she happened upon a very small animal that appeared to be a hare, a baby hare, alone. Concerned about this susceptible creature, but also wary of interfering in a wild animal’s life, she waited to see if the mother would return. When she didn’t, Dalton’s adventure began and the seed of this delightful, insightful, often profound memoir was born.
The beauty of this book is watching as Dalton begins her experience of aiding a hare’s survival while trying not to interfere with its life as a hare. She uses instinct, book learning, the local vet. Instinct often seems the best. Her thoughts on coexistence of species continue to develop over time.
I highly recommend this book for its capture of the lives of the author and hare in an unusual co-existence, the descriptions of the natural world around Dalton’s farm, the life and activities of hares. I had no idea about hares!
Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Pantheon for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
One day, while walking near her home, she happened upon a very small animal that appeared to be a hare, a baby hare, alone. Concerned about this susceptible creature, but also wary of interfering in a wild animal’s life, she waited to see if the mother would return. When she didn’t, Dalton’s adventure began and the seed of this delightful, insightful, often profound memoir was born.
The beauty of this book is watching as Dalton begins her experience of aiding a hare’s survival while trying not to interfere with its life as a hare. She uses instinct, book learning, the local vet. Instinct often seems the best. Her thoughts on coexistence of species continue to develop over time.
I highly recommend this book for its capture of the lives of the author and hare in an unusual co-existence, the descriptions of the natural world around Dalton’s farm, the life and activities of hares. I had no idea about hares!
Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Pantheon for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
March 26, 2025
This is really stirring nonfiction about how a singular hare changed the author’s life for the better.
When Dalton found a leveret, a newborn hare, chased out of its hide into the open, she first waited to see if its mother would find it and hide it away safely once again. When that doesn’t happen, she sets herself to learning how to raise a wild hare. After caring for the animal through its infancy, she ensures it is free to make its own choices. The hare comes and goes, roaming the English countryside at nighttime and returning to the author’s garden and even into her home to rest, eat, and play. Dalton tries her best to not anthropomorphize the wild animal, or to make it into a pet. Regardless, the hare is so comfortable with her human associate, she even gives birth to one of her litters inside her home, and keeps her babies hidden away safely there while she forages at night.
A focus of this book, besides the story of the interactions and relationship between woman and hare, is how changing her life to accommodate this animal and watching it thrive led the author to learn a new appreciation for nature and life itself. She slowed down, observed more, lived in the moment, and developed mindfulness that allowed her to take more joy in the small realities of life. Additionally, she became more conscious of how human endeavors affect the habitat around them, as well as the wildlife that depends on it. She was able to effect some change to help alleviate some of these environmental harms.
Beyond being educational about hares, their behaviors and natural habitats (a subject that has apparently historically been somewhat neglected), this was an emotional, meditative and reflective book that was a pleasure to read.
My thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When Dalton found a leveret, a newborn hare, chased out of its hide into the open, she first waited to see if its mother would find it and hide it away safely once again. When that doesn’t happen, she sets herself to learning how to raise a wild hare. After caring for the animal through its infancy, she ensures it is free to make its own choices. The hare comes and goes, roaming the English countryside at nighttime and returning to the author’s garden and even into her home to rest, eat, and play. Dalton tries her best to not anthropomorphize the wild animal, or to make it into a pet. Regardless, the hare is so comfortable with her human associate, she even gives birth to one of her litters inside her home, and keeps her babies hidden away safely there while she forages at night.
A focus of this book, besides the story of the interactions and relationship between woman and hare, is how changing her life to accommodate this animal and watching it thrive led the author to learn a new appreciation for nature and life itself. She slowed down, observed more, lived in the moment, and developed mindfulness that allowed her to take more joy in the small realities of life. Additionally, she became more conscious of how human endeavors affect the habitat around them, as well as the wildlife that depends on it. She was able to effect some change to help alleviate some of these environmental harms.
Beyond being educational about hares, their behaviors and natural habitats (a subject that has apparently historically been somewhat neglected), this was an emotional, meditative and reflective book that was a pleasure to read.
My thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 16, 2025
This is such a heartwarming and sweet book of how humans often overlook things in the natural world, but the wonder and joy we can find when we slow down. During the pandemic lockdown, the author Chloe Dalton decides to stay at her country cottage. One day while on a walk she finds a newborn hare (leveret) that has been lost and without its mother.
Chloe can’t bear to leave it to die so she wraps it up and takes it home. She researches how to feed it� it is so tiny she is certain it will die. But with her care, it grows. Chloe is determined not to make it a pet, but return it to the wild once it’s old enough. Hares cannot be domesticated the way rabbits can.
Over time the leveret explores her house, and she starts to take it outside for short periods. They develop a relationship. Not as pet and owner, but as two living together in harmony. Chloe allows the hare to take the lead and at times it will wander further afield, but it returns.
The author lets us share in this beautiful relationship and you can’t help but imagine yourself in this cottage with hares hopping around! It’s a fairly gentle and slower paced book, but it is perfect to absorb this wonderful debut book. I listened to the audiobook, and at the end is a discussion between author and narrator.
Chloe can’t bear to leave it to die so she wraps it up and takes it home. She researches how to feed it� it is so tiny she is certain it will die. But with her care, it grows. Chloe is determined not to make it a pet, but return it to the wild once it’s old enough. Hares cannot be domesticated the way rabbits can.
Over time the leveret explores her house, and she starts to take it outside for short periods. They develop a relationship. Not as pet and owner, but as two living together in harmony. Chloe allows the hare to take the lead and at times it will wander further afield, but it returns.
The author lets us share in this beautiful relationship and you can’t help but imagine yourself in this cottage with hares hopping around! It’s a fairly gentle and slower paced book, but it is perfect to absorb this wonderful debut book. I listened to the audiobook, and at the end is a discussion between author and narrator.
January 2, 2025
Honestly, I'm glad this is my first book of the year to review as it is a stunning read.
Whatever your thoughts on the rights or wrongs of the situation Chloe Dalton found herself in, there is no denying the absolutely magical experience she was exposed to by nurturing a hare to adulthood. What a privilege to encounter such beauty, mysticism and elusiveness. I was completely mesmerised and captivated by the writing and totally invested in Hare's survival.
This book restored my faith in humanity and it warmed my soul at a very difficult time.
Thank you Chloe for your honest, tender writing and I have to say, had I found the leveret that day, I'd have done exactly the same.
Whatever your thoughts on the rights or wrongs of the situation Chloe Dalton found herself in, there is no denying the absolutely magical experience she was exposed to by nurturing a hare to adulthood. What a privilege to encounter such beauty, mysticism and elusiveness. I was completely mesmerised and captivated by the writing and totally invested in Hare's survival.
This book restored my faith in humanity and it warmed my soul at a very difficult time.
Thank you Chloe for your honest, tender writing and I have to say, had I found the leveret that day, I'd have done exactly the same.
February 2, 2025
My favorite chapter of this beautifully and sensitively written book is number three: “One Month Old: Little Hare� in which Chloe Dalton describes the difficulties she had finding any information on raising a hare. She searched especially for information on feeding and finally came upon poems William Cowper had written 250 years ago about raising a hare the neighbor’s children had gifted to him while recovering from a bad breakup! She began to experiment with the items included in the poems and found that her hare had particular tastes.
I loved the descriptions of how the hare would eat a raspberry or dandelion stalk, and my favorite of all was the description of the sounds the hare made after eating. The hare “would often produce a strange musical call as it ran away from me after feeding. Louder than a puff, sharper than a sigh, softer than a grunt and more musical than a snort […] like the faintest note the gentlest breath on a harmonica.�
As the hare grew and changed through adolescence and entered adulthood Dalton writes, “Its coat was a many-hued wonder: a tapestry of tawny red, ginger, coffee and caramel tones � all shifting in the light.
I noted and appreciated that Dalton never names the hare as she determines not to tame, domesticate or anthropomorphize it in anyway. Rather, she accommodates and adapts her care to support it as a wild creature that should remain wild.
She loved accommodating the hare and “having a reason to change [her] habits.� Dalton goes on to describe how the hare influenced her, “as its gaze travelled further, so did mine, drawing my mind, and increasingly my feet, outdoors.�
The hare changed Dalton’s life in other ways also. She writes, “I had rediscovered the pleasure of attachment to a place and the contentment that can be derived from exploring it fully, rather than constantly seeking ways to leave it and believing that satisfaction can only lie in novel experiences.�
I appreciated her observations of the differences on the nature of the deep bond humans create with animals versus with fellow humans. Dalton explains, “I had come to appreciate that affection for an animal is of a different kind entirely: untinged by the regret, complexities and compromises of human relationships. It has an innocence and purity all of its own.�
Then, she goes on to explain that “In the absence of verbal communication, we extend ourselves to comprehend and meet their needs and, in return, derive companionship and interest from their presence, while also steeling ourselves for inevitable pain, since their lives are for the most part shorter than ours.�
I have truly loved reading this book in the quiet of each morning as an antidote after first catching up on the world news. I loved how the hare never becomes tame but coexists with Dalton and comes and goes at will.
Finally, Dalton ends with sharing her awe as she writes of cherishing “the days she has given me of her own free will, when she lowered her species� instinctive guard against humans, and shared the beauty and mystery of her presence in silent and graceful companionship. I will remember her leaving, but will know that before she did, she always, first, look backed.�
I loved the descriptions of how the hare would eat a raspberry or dandelion stalk, and my favorite of all was the description of the sounds the hare made after eating. The hare “would often produce a strange musical call as it ran away from me after feeding. Louder than a puff, sharper than a sigh, softer than a grunt and more musical than a snort […] like the faintest note the gentlest breath on a harmonica.�
As the hare grew and changed through adolescence and entered adulthood Dalton writes, “Its coat was a many-hued wonder: a tapestry of tawny red, ginger, coffee and caramel tones � all shifting in the light.
I noted and appreciated that Dalton never names the hare as she determines not to tame, domesticate or anthropomorphize it in anyway. Rather, she accommodates and adapts her care to support it as a wild creature that should remain wild.
She loved accommodating the hare and “having a reason to change [her] habits.� Dalton goes on to describe how the hare influenced her, “as its gaze travelled further, so did mine, drawing my mind, and increasingly my feet, outdoors.�
The hare changed Dalton’s life in other ways also. She writes, “I had rediscovered the pleasure of attachment to a place and the contentment that can be derived from exploring it fully, rather than constantly seeking ways to leave it and believing that satisfaction can only lie in novel experiences.�
I appreciated her observations of the differences on the nature of the deep bond humans create with animals versus with fellow humans. Dalton explains, “I had come to appreciate that affection for an animal is of a different kind entirely: untinged by the regret, complexities and compromises of human relationships. It has an innocence and purity all of its own.�
Then, she goes on to explain that “In the absence of verbal communication, we extend ourselves to comprehend and meet their needs and, in return, derive companionship and interest from their presence, while also steeling ourselves for inevitable pain, since their lives are for the most part shorter than ours.�
I have truly loved reading this book in the quiet of each morning as an antidote after first catching up on the world news. I loved how the hare never becomes tame but coexists with Dalton and comes and goes at will.
Finally, Dalton ends with sharing her awe as she writes of cherishing “the days she has given me of her own free will, when she lowered her species� instinctive guard against humans, and shared the beauty and mystery of her presence in silent and graceful companionship. I will remember her leaving, but will know that before she did, she always, first, look backed.�
October 17, 2024
This extraordinary book took my breath away at times. It's more than a memoir, it's a masterful reflection on the place human beings occupy in the world, the fragility of the natural world and the wild animals who inhabit it, and the relationships we build with ourselves and those around us (including animals) in the quiet moments. It's right up there with my favourite books this year. And the writing, oh the writing: it is flawless.
Chloe Dalton is a political advisor and speechwriter (she thanks William Hague in the acknowledgements) who, during the pandemic, returns to the English countryside of her childhood. While there, she finds a leveret (a baby hare) injured after being chased by a dog. She takes in the leveret, but doesn't cage it, giving it freedom to roam in and out of the house.
The book chronicles their time together and the challenges faced preparing the leveret for life in the wild as it grows into a hare. This might sound plodding to anyone not into nature memoirs (I can't say I'm particularly into them myself), but I promise Raising Hare is full of thrilling moments, tension and beauty. I absolutely loved it and plan to pick up a physical copy. This will surely win prizes. Comfortably a 5/5 stars for me. A thing of dazzling beauty.
Favourite reads so far this year: The Axeman's Carnival, The Safekeep, The Coast Road and Raising Hare.
*Many thanks to the author, publisher @canongatebooks and Netgalley for the arc. As always, this is an honest review.
Chloe Dalton is a political advisor and speechwriter (she thanks William Hague in the acknowledgements) who, during the pandemic, returns to the English countryside of her childhood. While there, she finds a leveret (a baby hare) injured after being chased by a dog. She takes in the leveret, but doesn't cage it, giving it freedom to roam in and out of the house.
The book chronicles their time together and the challenges faced preparing the leveret for life in the wild as it grows into a hare. This might sound plodding to anyone not into nature memoirs (I can't say I'm particularly into them myself), but I promise Raising Hare is full of thrilling moments, tension and beauty. I absolutely loved it and plan to pick up a physical copy. This will surely win prizes. Comfortably a 5/5 stars for me. A thing of dazzling beauty.
Favourite reads so far this year: The Axeman's Carnival, The Safekeep, The Coast Road and Raising Hare.
*Many thanks to the author, publisher @canongatebooks and Netgalley for the arc. As always, this is an honest review.
January 11, 2025
Recommended by friends who attended the Hay Festival (anyone who is lucky enough to reside in Hay on Wye (a.k.a. heaven on earth), in this sleepy town of the best bookstores on earth -- they tend to be trusted bibliophiles who lean away from the trendy reads and recommend books not to be missed.
This.
Right here.
A treasure.
An absolute gem.
Thank goodness for those who read off the beaten path. Even the pickiest readers have come back to me and said, "You weren't kidding! This was an unforgettable read."
Enjoy! ~
� � � � �+++
This.
Right here.
A treasure.
An absolute gem.
Thank goodness for those who read off the beaten path. Even the pickiest readers have come back to me and said, "You weren't kidding! This was an unforgettable read."
Enjoy! ~
� � � � �+++
April 12, 2025
This was such a lovely memoir that follows a workaholic political advisor/British writer and a newborn hare (leveret) she rescues and takes into her English countryside home during the COVID lockdown. Raised on Darwinism, Dalton did not treat the leveret as a pet, nor name her, and seldom touched her. She took care in keeping the hare to its wildness, while feeding and maintaining its survival by learning what foods it ate, and turning her house into a free-range shelter. The young leveret came and went as it wanted, its choice to stay or go, indoor or out. As the leveret, now hare, grew older how wonderful for Dalton to discover the hare had given birth (several times) to little leverets of her own. This touching and sweetly told story of human and animal co-existing is a testament to how deeply we can feel about experiencing and understanding nature around us. For Dalton this experience changed her outlook for the better, to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. � 5 stars � Pub. 3/4/25
December 8, 2024
This is one of my favorite books of 2024. "Raising Hare: A Memoir" by Chloe Dalton is a breathtaking and touching reflection on what it means to connect not just with nature but with ourselves. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Dalton finds herself tucked away in her English countryside home, away from the busy London lifestyle she was accustomed to and thrived in, and where she would travel all over the world at a moment's notice for her job.
While living in the countryside, she stumbles upon a newborn wild hare (a leveret). She leaves the leveret for several hours, hoping the mother hare will reconnect with it, but it still has not moved when she returns. Since it's in the middle of a dirt road, she worries for its safety with its exposure to tractors and predators, so she carries it inside the safety of the stone wall of her gardens and into her home. This begins a wild adventure of bottled milk feedings and deep research to provide this tiny leveret the best possible chance for survival and release back into the wild.
Dalton never cages the hare, nor does she name it or cuddle it, as one would a pet. She is always careful to allow the animal full autonomy and the ability to come and go from her home as it pleases. As a result, it trusts her completely and will sleep beside her.
This unlikely friendship and touching narrative explores trust, freedom, and the delicate balance of companionship with a wild animal and what's in their best interest.
Dalton's writing is vivid and immersive; you can practically feel the fresh air and the wind and see the collection of wildflowers and plants in her garden. Hear the tractors across the fields, the leveret tapping on the glass to come into the house and see the hares hopping around the gardens and surrounding fields as the sun begins to set. Her ups and downs with the leveret—filled with uncertainty and happiness—are so heartfelt. You find yourself cheering for both her and her the hare as they figure out their unique bond and love for one another. It is truly beautiful to read!
Even more interesting is how Dalton weaves in fascinating facts about hares and their history in art and folklore, adding depth to her story. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from the most unexpected places. And it was incredibly inspiring to see how this hare changed her in so many unique ways. "Raising Hare" is definitely worth a read if you’re looking for something that’s both captivating and heartwarming. Five stars all the way!
Thank you #NetGalley, #ChloeDalton, #Pantheon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #RaisingHare.
While living in the countryside, she stumbles upon a newborn wild hare (a leveret). She leaves the leveret for several hours, hoping the mother hare will reconnect with it, but it still has not moved when she returns. Since it's in the middle of a dirt road, she worries for its safety with its exposure to tractors and predators, so she carries it inside the safety of the stone wall of her gardens and into her home. This begins a wild adventure of bottled milk feedings and deep research to provide this tiny leveret the best possible chance for survival and release back into the wild.
Dalton never cages the hare, nor does she name it or cuddle it, as one would a pet. She is always careful to allow the animal full autonomy and the ability to come and go from her home as it pleases. As a result, it trusts her completely and will sleep beside her.
This unlikely friendship and touching narrative explores trust, freedom, and the delicate balance of companionship with a wild animal and what's in their best interest.
Dalton's writing is vivid and immersive; you can practically feel the fresh air and the wind and see the collection of wildflowers and plants in her garden. Hear the tractors across the fields, the leveret tapping on the glass to come into the house and see the hares hopping around the gardens and surrounding fields as the sun begins to set. Her ups and downs with the leveret—filled with uncertainty and happiness—are so heartfelt. You find yourself cheering for both her and her the hare as they figure out their unique bond and love for one another. It is truly beautiful to read!
Even more interesting is how Dalton weaves in fascinating facts about hares and their history in art and folklore, adding depth to her story. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from the most unexpected places. And it was incredibly inspiring to see how this hare changed her in so many unique ways. "Raising Hare" is definitely worth a read if you’re looking for something that’s both captivating and heartwarming. Five stars all the way!
Thank you #NetGalley, #ChloeDalton, #Pantheon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #RaisingHare.
April 3, 2025
Zu 90% geht es detailliert um Hasen, 10% sind, wie fast immer bei solchen Büchern, "hier alles, was ich mir angelesen habe zu dem Thema". Aber auch dieser Teil ist hier besser verstaut als anderswo, es sind keine Kapitel voller Füllmaterial, sondern eingestreute Stellen, und die Autorin tut nicht so, als sei sie selbst die Autorität, sondern fasst die Suchergebnisse in den Kontext ihrer eigenen Suche und ihrer eigenen Überlegungen ein.
Update, habe doch auf fünf Sterne erhöht, weil ich immer noch mehrmals täglich Sätze mit "Wusstest du, dass Feldhasen ..." und "Die Autorin mit dem Feldhasen ..." beginne.
Update, habe doch auf fünf Sterne erhöht, weil ich immer noch mehrmals täglich Sätze mit "Wusstest du, dass Feldhasen ..." und "Die Autorin mit dem Feldhasen ..." beginne.
March 22, 2025
so beautiful.
to love an animal is to accept the reality of mortality, to know you’ll end up hurt, and still choosing to do it.
(how do i convince my husband to let me get another pet because now 5 doesn’t seem like enough)
(bradley if you see this im just kidding� kind of.)
to love an animal is to accept the reality of mortality, to know you’ll end up hurt, and still choosing to do it.
(how do i convince my husband to let me get another pet because now 5 doesn’t seem like enough)
(bradley if you see this im just kidding� kind of.)
January 15, 2025
What a great book, so happy I found it. When women such as Dalton write about nature they bring a tender poignancy to their experience. A great story about a woman who finds a leveret and then finds meaning in their quiet coexistence.
March 8, 2025
Omg this was emotional from start to finish a must read if you’re an animal lover
February 19, 2025
'Raising Hare' is one of the most heartwarming, beguiling, hopeful nature books I've read in years. Chloe Dalton has written an utterly fascinating account of how she came to accidentally end up raising a wild leveret in her home. Over the following days and weeks and years, the young hare grew and matured, and had babies itself, and every aspect of its development was an education for Dalton. I am lucky enough to occasionally glimpse hares in the countryside around my home, but I knew next to nothing about them before I read Dalton's book. Now, I feel as though I know so much more about this incredible creature. An animal that defies our attempts to hunt and kill it almost to extinction. 80% of British hares are gone, and their habitat is disappearing too. This story of one woman and her relationship with a wild hare gripped me from the start, and is a powerful call to arms to protect the hare before it's too late.
January 24, 2025
I loved the design of the cover, jacket and chapter ends of this book. However, the writing was lacking something. This authors style of writing might just not be for me. I enjoyed reading about the hare itself but felt a disconnect with all the info dumping. The information was good but didn’t blend in well with the memoir style that this was aiming for. It picked up pace and interest for me when the hare had her own leverets. I’m just disappointed in the writing overall as the premise was so intriguing but so surface level.
February 26, 2025
A truly beautiful story of the delicate flux between humans and nature.
This was both heart warming and concerning as it wove together the stewardship Dalton has over her wild hare and the respect she has for its independence and agency juxtaposed with the terrible impact hunting, farming and the diminishment of natural habitats on the hare's survival.
I loved Dalton's honesty about her personal journey from workaholic to treasuring small moments of natural, simple beauty. Whilst this is a story we've heard before I felt there was a raw vulnerability to this narrative that never felt twee or saccharine.
One slight criticism I had was that there were some fairly obvious proofreading/editing errors in this which were surprising for such a flagship publication of a major publisher and slightly galling after purchasing the hardback.
However, this is no reflection on Dalton's beautiful prose which is simple, yet profound and on that basis I am so glad I purchased this to keep and will look forward to rereading it in the future.
This was both heart warming and concerning as it wove together the stewardship Dalton has over her wild hare and the respect she has for its independence and agency juxtaposed with the terrible impact hunting, farming and the diminishment of natural habitats on the hare's survival.
I loved Dalton's honesty about her personal journey from workaholic to treasuring small moments of natural, simple beauty. Whilst this is a story we've heard before I felt there was a raw vulnerability to this narrative that never felt twee or saccharine.
One slight criticism I had was that there were some fairly obvious proofreading/editing errors in this which were surprising for such a flagship publication of a major publisher and slightly galling after purchasing the hardback.
However, this is no reflection on Dalton's beautiful prose which is simple, yet profound and on that basis I am so glad I purchased this to keep and will look forward to rereading it in the future.
December 4, 2024
Author Chloe Dalton was not an animal person and not particularly an outdoorsy nature lover either. During the pandemic she left London for the countryside to work from home. While out on a stroll, she discovered an abandoned newborn hare - a leveret - that changed her life in ways she could not begin to predict. Keeping her contact with the un-named hare (she doesn't want it to be a pet) to a minimum, she intervenes just enough to ensure it survives and mostly observes with fascination its habits and personality. Beautiful, clear, informative writing with facts about hares; they're capable of superfetation, for their size they're faster than cheetahs and they smell like digestive biscuits. To be in the hare's proximity, Dalton is often drawn out of her cozy home and into nature, noticing much she hadn't before, and challenging modern farming practices. A few years ago I loved Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk but I now think H is for .... Hare. Readers of Macdonald's memoir and Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass will find much to love in this absolute treasure of a book that shows how we can be expanded if we remain open to new experiences.
"I am content with the small part of her life that overlaps with mine. Ours are different worlds. She can cross into mine, but hers will always be out of reach to me, and that is as it should be." p267
"I am content with the small part of her life that overlaps with mine. Ours are different worlds. She can cross into mine, but hers will always be out of reach to me, and that is as it should be." p267
September 6, 2024
This is without doubt the standout book of 2024 for me so far. I was enthralled throughout. Dalton lyrically combines the wonder of nature with facts and observations in her writing that makes it such a joy to read.
‘Raising Hare� is the story of how one woman unexpectedly ended up rescuing a leveret and bringing it up in her house before it ventures back out into the wild. Only the story doesn’t end there, as while the hare is not tamed, it does form a bond with Dalton which is played out in various forms over several years. We journey with the author as she has to adapt to this new creature in her house of which she, at first, knows nothing about. As time passes the existence of the hare causes her own outlook on the world to change as she sees both beauty and dangers that lurk in the countryside.
This was such a wonderful book and it encapsulates the very best of nature writing. I turned the final page to be left with more knowledge about hares (which have always been one of my favourite animals) and also a determination to take time to notice all of the nature that surrounds me too. I was only disappointed that the book had to finish, I happily could have read many more chapters. A solid five stars!
‘Raising Hare� is the story of how one woman unexpectedly ended up rescuing a leveret and bringing it up in her house before it ventures back out into the wild. Only the story doesn’t end there, as while the hare is not tamed, it does form a bond with Dalton which is played out in various forms over several years. We journey with the author as she has to adapt to this new creature in her house of which she, at first, knows nothing about. As time passes the existence of the hare causes her own outlook on the world to change as she sees both beauty and dangers that lurk in the countryside.
This was such a wonderful book and it encapsulates the very best of nature writing. I turned the final page to be left with more knowledge about hares (which have always been one of my favourite animals) and also a determination to take time to notice all of the nature that surrounds me too. I was only disappointed that the book had to finish, I happily could have read many more chapters. A solid five stars!
April 6, 2025
A beautifully written, moving and thought provoking memoir. When the author comes across a leveret on a track near her house, she initially leaves it, but when it becomes clear that the mother isn't coming back, she takes it home and manages to rear it herself with the intention of releasing it back into the wild. She never tries to tame it, or even name it, the hare sets the bounderies of their relationship. This leads to a quite extrodinary story, and the author gains a new respect for nature, and particularly hares; and is quite simply a fabulous read. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2025
Full review to come what a tender and insightful story 😭
***Full Review***
“The hare lends itself as a symbol of the transience of life and its fleeting glory, and our dependence on nature and our careless destruction of it. But in the hare-and nature’s-endless capacity for renewal, we can find hope.�
“Under the subtle influence of the hare, my own wants have simplified. To be dependable in love and friendship more than in work. To leave the land in a more natural state than I found it. And to take better care of what is to hand, setting beauty and value in the ordinary.�
This memoir felt like a warm loving hug. Chloe Dalton presents to us her time during lockdown and how she came to welcome a wild hare into her home. With great care, she provided the hare a shelter while also allowing it the freedom to fulfill its natural instincts. Her honest and confessional prose approaches scientific topics of hares, nature, and the agricultural advancements that sadly contribute to the disruption of natural habitats, in a way that is engaging and intriguing. Revealing the hard truths regarding environmental concerns; specifically habitats for the wild, could easily become a discouraging hard pill to swallow, in how we as humans have contributed to the devastation. However, by the end, I felt hopeful and motivated in how intentional I need to be in “leaving the land in a more natural state than I found it.�
There’s also themes in the story about self concept; being still, and examining our own nature, and how much of it is our true nature versus how much of it is a result of us trying to survive in an ever changing, fast paced existence. Ugh-I just adored this book, every human should read it.
***Full Review***
“The hare lends itself as a symbol of the transience of life and its fleeting glory, and our dependence on nature and our careless destruction of it. But in the hare-and nature’s-endless capacity for renewal, we can find hope.�
“Under the subtle influence of the hare, my own wants have simplified. To be dependable in love and friendship more than in work. To leave the land in a more natural state than I found it. And to take better care of what is to hand, setting beauty and value in the ordinary.�
This memoir felt like a warm loving hug. Chloe Dalton presents to us her time during lockdown and how she came to welcome a wild hare into her home. With great care, she provided the hare a shelter while also allowing it the freedom to fulfill its natural instincts. Her honest and confessional prose approaches scientific topics of hares, nature, and the agricultural advancements that sadly contribute to the disruption of natural habitats, in a way that is engaging and intriguing. Revealing the hard truths regarding environmental concerns; specifically habitats for the wild, could easily become a discouraging hard pill to swallow, in how we as humans have contributed to the devastation. However, by the end, I felt hopeful and motivated in how intentional I need to be in “leaving the land in a more natural state than I found it.�
There’s also themes in the story about self concept; being still, and examining our own nature, and how much of it is our true nature versus how much of it is a result of us trying to survive in an ever changing, fast paced existence. Ugh-I just adored this book, every human should read it.
March 11, 2025
Pantheon gifted me with a review copy of this, and I don't say this often, but I think everyone should read Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton.
On the surface, sure, it is a story about Dalton finding a leveret and rescuing it, raising it. Beautifully written with such detaileddescriptions. Dalton really has a knack for recalling such specific things that create quite a picture. This book made me pause and slow down, I'm thankful for that. I also learned quite a bit about hares, and news to me, how different they are from rabbits.
The reason I want everyone to read it is, well, I read beyond this being about a hare. To me, this book is about us. I think the easiest way to gain empathy is through reading. I think there is also a huge lack of empathy as of late. In this book, we learn (no surprise to most of us) that Dalton didn't sacrifice anything of herself taking care of the hare. She made space alongside herself, and she grew from the experience. She learned things, she saw things from a different perspective. In a sense, her world grew and flourished in new ways. Her life was enriched. I believe, without having a neon sign, that you all know where I'm going here... it is a brilliant, beautiful lesson that many people can learn from.
On the surface, sure, it is a story about Dalton finding a leveret and rescuing it, raising it. Beautifully written with such detaileddescriptions. Dalton really has a knack for recalling such specific things that create quite a picture. This book made me pause and slow down, I'm thankful for that. I also learned quite a bit about hares, and news to me, how different they are from rabbits.
The reason I want everyone to read it is, well, I read beyond this being about a hare. To me, this book is about us. I think the easiest way to gain empathy is through reading. I think there is also a huge lack of empathy as of late. In this book, we learn (no surprise to most of us) that Dalton didn't sacrifice anything of herself taking care of the hare. She made space alongside herself, and she grew from the experience. She learned things, she saw things from a different perspective. In a sense, her world grew and flourished in new ways. Her life was enriched. I believe, without having a neon sign, that you all know where I'm going here... it is a brilliant, beautiful lesson that many people can learn from.
March 26, 2025
Shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize, Nonfiction
Longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize, Nonfiction: 11/16
Shadow and sun, so too our lives are made.
Yet think how great the sun, how small the shade.
—motto on a sundial
such an amazing book!! in-progress rankings of some recent longlists in my bio. still sitting with this a bit, & going to read some interviews / reviews etc here shortly!
Longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize, Nonfiction: 11/16
Shadow and sun, so too our lives are made.
Yet think how great the sun, how small the shade.
—motto on a sundial
such an amazing book!! in-progress rankings of some recent longlists in my bio. still sitting with this a bit, & going to read some interviews / reviews etc here shortly!
January 12, 2025
This book is about a lady rearing a Hare. That's it. I thought there may be more to it, but there isn't. No deep insight into anything other than rearing a Hare. I guess the clue is in the title.
April 23, 2025
A lovely meditation on achieving connection with nature through a relationship with two generations of hares. One winter Dalton found a seemingly abandoned leveret on the track outside her house in the countryside. She fed it powdered milk meant for lambs and, as it grew, let it come and go from her garden over the wall. Always, she was careful only to call it “the leveret� or “the hare,� and not to cage or name it. This was no pet but a wild creature who graced her with its presence. When she saw the hare with leverets, she knew it was female and did begin referring to “she/her.� There end up being several litters, one of which is born in her house! (Hares are able to become pregnant again while carrying a litter; this is known as superfetation.)
The book is full of information about hares throughout history and worldwide, as well as in folklore, etc. Generally, it's more interesting than, e.g., John Lewis-Stempel's short book about the hare. A lot of the research was via books ordered from the London Library. (I love that she took some early feeding advice from 18th-century poet William Cowper, who kept pet hares!) However, much of her learning was simply a matter of spending time in her small area and becoming more perceptive. Dalton had a high-flying Foreign and Commonwealth Office career that involved a lot of travel, but she spent lockdown in the countryside rather than in London. The hare kept her rooted there and brought her peace and a slower pace of life. She witnessed first hand how hares are collateral damage in an industrialized farming system; there is a distressing section late in the book where she walks by a potato field that has just been ploughed and comes across multiple killed and injured animals.
For her, it's part of a larger epiphany about the unwonted effects people have on nature, and how we can change our habits to impinge less. Dalton presents living with hares as a privilege. “I have never resented adapting my life to hers, because I have always known that one day I will lose this opportunity,� she writes.
[Bizarre biographical fact: Dalton was one of Angelina Jolie's advisors and, along with Arminka Helic, seems to be widely blamed for her divorce from Brad Pitt. Was this book intended to rehabilitate her reputation?!]
The book is full of information about hares throughout history and worldwide, as well as in folklore, etc. Generally, it's more interesting than, e.g., John Lewis-Stempel's short book about the hare. A lot of the research was via books ordered from the London Library. (I love that she took some early feeding advice from 18th-century poet William Cowper, who kept pet hares!) However, much of her learning was simply a matter of spending time in her small area and becoming more perceptive. Dalton had a high-flying Foreign and Commonwealth Office career that involved a lot of travel, but she spent lockdown in the countryside rather than in London. The hare kept her rooted there and brought her peace and a slower pace of life. She witnessed first hand how hares are collateral damage in an industrialized farming system; there is a distressing section late in the book where she walks by a potato field that has just been ploughed and comes across multiple killed and injured animals.
For her, it's part of a larger epiphany about the unwonted effects people have on nature, and how we can change our habits to impinge less. Dalton presents living with hares as a privilege. “I have never resented adapting my life to hers, because I have always known that one day I will lose this opportunity,� she writes.
[Bizarre biographical fact: Dalton was one of Angelina Jolie's advisors and, along with Arminka Helic, seems to be widely blamed for her divorce from Brad Pitt. Was this book intended to rehabilitate her reputation?!]
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