While Silvia initially acts human, insisting on wearing clothing and playing piquet, her behaviour increasingly becomes that characteristic of a vixen, causing the husband a great deal of anguish.

They included a parody by Christopher Ward (1868–1943) Gentleman Into Goose (1924), while Vercors' homage Sylva (1961), depicts a fox transforming into a woman.

[2] In 1939, British choreographer Andrée Howard created a musical work of the same name based on Garnett's book for Ballet Rambert.

Sally Gilmour dancing Silvia Tebrick assured the ballet's success.

The music was an arrangement of piano pieces by Arthur Honegger (Sept pièces brèves and Toccata et variations), setting and costumes designed by Nadia Benois.