Penelope: The World of Each Other

Injured, disabled and in pain, a fawn appears one evening at the door of the author's home. Having been abandoned by her mother, having endured an exceptionally brutal winter, through the first months of her life she has survived a solitary woodland existence. She seems ready to die. Yet her life force is strong, and she has chosen the right door. Offering food and quiet attention, he allows her to understand that she is wanted. From that night, living wild and free, she begins returning each day, gradually gaining strength, as an uncommon bond of love and trust deepens between a man and a deer.

Sensing the unfolding of a singular connection, the author begins writing and photographing, through the seasons and the unexpected events of the following years.

By nature, deer are distant, wary and elusive. Through his words and images, Paul Bochner shares an incredibly rare experience, bringing into close range the subtle spirit and mind of this vulnerable creature. As Penelope continues to survive alone in the forest, and through their hours and days, his respect for her grows, and so his respect for all creatures. Their bond leads to questions of what it means to be human, to be animal, of the woven threads which unite us, and of what divides us. The intersection of two lives asks that the nature of love, and the challenges of clearly seeing another soul be considered. Through committed attention, he comes to cherish the unexpectedly full range of Penelope's emotional life, embracing anger, hurt, joy and, most surprisingly, humor. Her capacity to love, unbroken by her rejection from her own mother, inspires his wonder and devotion.

In this extraordinary work, the author illuminates the unforeseen gifts granted by the crossing of accepted boundaries, entering the world of another.