The Fox-Hunting Controversy, 1781-2004

’This is an engaging book, a fascinating read, which combines the social and literary histories of fox hunting, from the eighteenth century to the present day. Scholars as well as the general reader will savour the subtle analysis of class and other social relationships, of the place of the pony in children’s literature, and the astute judgments about the surprisingly widespread references to the hunt in recent as well as older literary works.’ Douglas Hay, York University, Canada 'Fox hunting is, as May makes clear, an emotive subject, and her balanced and thoughtful approach may not appeal to readers with strong views on either side of the debate, but it offers an overview of the cultural, social and literary history of the debate, while at the same time giving an insight into the two key questions: why hunting has held such an enduring place in the lives of its supporters and why it has aroused such controversy in Britain.' Sport in History 'Allyson N. May’s The Fox-Hunting Controversy, 1781-2004 ... demonstrates the sport’s complex and ever-changing place in English culture, making the implications of the ban more multifaceted and far-reaching than might at first appear.' Times Literary Supplement ’...an interesting set of essays likely to provoke more argument and encourage others to pursue the same subject.’ English Historical Review