Foxes Unearthed

Lucy Jones is a nature writer and journalist based in London. She was Deputy Editor at NME.com and previously worked at the Daily Telegraph. Her writing on culture, science and nature has been published in BBC Earth, BBC Wildlife, the Guardian, TIME and the New Statesman, and she has contributed to programmes on BBC Radio 4 (Woman’s Hour, Today), 6 Music and Radio 1, the BBC World Service, VICE, Channel 5 and Channel 4. She runs the Wildlife Daily blog, featuring wildlife, nature and environment news from around the world, and is the recipient of the Society of Authors’ Roger Deakin Award for Foxes Unearthed.

• Contents; Prologue 1; 1 As Cunning as a Fox 7; 2 Fox in the Henhouse 67; 3 To Catch a Fox 97; 4 Tally Ho! 139; 5 Friends and Foes 189; 6 The Fox Next Door 225; Epilogue 273; Notes 277; Bibliography 291; Acknowledgements 299; Index 303; About the Author 312

"Jones's history of our complex relationship with the fox is revealing... to discover there was an 18th-century sport of 'fox tossing' almost makes this worth the purchase alone" -- John Lewis-Stempel, The Times Books of the Year 2016; "The fox has for centuries been held as the incarnation of such unlovely traits as deviousness, cunning and cruelty. ... However, the characteristic that emerges most strongly from the nature writer Lucy Jones's book about Vulpes vulpes is its ambiguity. ... [An] intriguing compendium of fox lore." -- Michael Prodger, The Times; `Engaging and hugely enjoyable' - Tom Holland, Times Literary Supplement; "A fantastic tour of the fox and us - Lucy Jones takes an intelligent, measured and humane look at the intimate, contradictory and occasionally crazy relationship between Homo sapiens and Vulpes vulpes" -- Patrick Barkham, author of Badgerlands and The Butterfly Isles; "A foxy little book, offering a rich brew of nature and history and culture. An exemplary instance of fine research leading to balance and sanity on a subject usually lacking in either. Deeply enjoyable and informative" -- Sara Maitland, author of Gossip from the Forest: The Tangled Roots of Our Forests and Fairytales; "Fascinating ... [a] well-balanced exploration of our tempestuous relationship" -- Country Life; "Beautifully written and signals a conspicuous new talent ... She traces the place of the fox in our culture over many centuries" -- Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph; "A fascinating discussion of the history of our attitude to the fox ... it will almost certainly teach you something new" -- The Spectator; "This well-researched, engaging account of their lives, behaviour and cultural impact from fox-loving journalist Jones is filled with interesting information and evocative description" -- Top 20 Holiday Reads, i-newspaper; "Brave, bold and honest - finally the truth about foxes" --Chris Packham, TV presenter and naturalist; "A commendably impartial book ... expresses [Jones's] sincere love of the countryside and the animals in it" -- Patrick Scrivenor, Literary Review; "A sensitive and illuminating investigation into our complex and ever-evolving relationship with the most intriguing, incredible and intractable of British mammals. Through a keen eye and bright prose, Jones traces the trail of the fox through history, myth and current debates, exploring the roots of our love and hate from all perspectives. This is a beautiful book that will change the way you think about the fox, whatever you think about the fox." -- Rob Cowen, author of Common Ground and Skimming Stones; "Foxes Unearthed separates fact from fiction, studying the evolution of foxes in our stories and the cold hard facts... Whether you're fascinated by foxes, wild for wildlife or completely new to the realm of non-fiction, I recommend picking up this book! I've come away from Foxes Unearthed feeling like I've really learned something new" -- themoormaiden.blogspot.uk; "Lucy Jones' investigative study explores the romantic myth and harsh reality of the fox with the unflinching rigour of a true journalist and heart of a poet" --Benjamin Myers, author of Beastings and Pig Iron; "A page turner [and] a timely examination of one of our more iconic animals ... A well balanced, well researched book ... it's also a pleasure to read" -- desperatereader.blogspot.uk; "A thorough and captivating history of our relationship with the fox. It is satisfying that a book which conveys an uncomplicated delight in the natural world ... simultaneously sends such a sobering message" -- Diva Harris, Caught by the River; "I loved the readability of the book, combining fact with fiction, folklore and magic with cold hard facts, but always, what shines through is the author's commitment to telling it like it is, with no superfluous waffle, not overly fanciful, just a really interesting look at the role foxes have in our rural and urban environments. The detail is good, the author's opinions are clearly expressed and throughout the book are intelligent observations from specialist contributors which help to give the book an overall balanced view." -- jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk; "Lucy Jones' book packs a serious and intelligent punch. Her meticulous research takes her back into Indo-European literature and contemporary linguistic analysis, and her journalist's nose takes her out into the countryside with hunters and saboteurs alike." -- Richard Littledale, The Preacher's Blog; "A distinctly human story ... Through spending time with those who would lay down their lives for a fox and those who range from appearing non-plussed to hell-bent on bloody extermination, Jones brilliantly (and often bravely) captures two uniquely British subcultures. Being buried in these opposed worlds, enables Jones to fuse her talent for research with journalistic reporting. ... It is also worth mentioning Jones' refreshing honesty" --Matt Gaw, journalist and columnist; "A subtle, richly layered and deeply satisfying read, full of energy" - Kate Blincoe, Running Wild blog; "Stunning ... if you like to read non-fiction, love foxes and/or want to reconnect with mother nature, there aren't many better books on the market... This is a beautiful book" --socialbookshelves.com; "Truly magnificent ... it's striking and beautiful ... an absolutely fascinating read" -- The Quiet Knitter; "Jones is thorough in her research and captivating in her writing style ... Foxes Unearthed is a refreshingly honest and impartial account of our changing relationship with foxes in the British Isles" - Ben Eagle, thinkingcountry.com; "Thought-provoking and entertaining" - Beyondedenrock.com; "You're unlikely to come across a more gorgeous book this year" - BookishBeck.wordpress.com; "A real page turner - packed full of fascinating information conveyed with clear, clever prose" - TheBookBag.co.uk; "Enchanting ... very thought-provoking and well researched" - Emma Caton, TheWildlifeChannel.co.uk; "A fascinating read" - ShortBookAndScribes.uk; "Genuinely compelling; one truly does not wish to put it down ... seek out and purchase a copy to discover just how much enlightening information as well as reading enjoyment its pages contain" - The Well-read Naturalist