Books Raising Hare: A Memoir  by Chloe Dalton (Author)

"Raising Hare: A Memoir" by Chloe Dalton is a moving and immersive memoir about an unlikely friendship between the author and a wild hare (a leveret) she rescued during the 2021 lockdown in the English countryside. After finding the newborn hare chased by a dog, Dalton takes it home with the intention of keeping it wild and eventually releasing it back into the wild. Through much trial and error, she learns how to care for the fragile leveret, feeding it and allowing it autonomy to roam freely in and out of her house and the surrounding fields.

The memoir is a meditation on freedom, trust, loss, and the delicate balance of companionship between a human and a wild animal. Dalton never confines the hare, nor treats it like a pet by coddling or naming it, instead respecting its wild nature. Their bond develops into one of mutual trust, with the hare often returning to Dalton’s home yet never fully domesticated. The book also explores the life and nature of hares, their place in history, art, and folklore, alongside Dalton's vivid descriptions of the English countryside and her emotional journey caring for the leveret.