Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Signet Classics (1961), Paperback, 332 pages
Description
Kipling's tales of Mowgli and his exciting life in the Indian jungle have been loved by children and adults alike ever since their publication in 1895. Mowgli the 'man-cub' must learn to fend for himself against terrible foes like Shere Khan the tiger, but he can always call upon his friends Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the Black Panther and Kaa the Rock Python from whom he learns law of the jungle.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookwoman247
The edition that I read contains both the first and the second Jungle Books.
I had never read this as a child, and was only familiar with the Disney version. Therefore, this book was full of surprises! Some of my favorite stories, like Rikki Tikki Tavi and many others didn't even make it into the
I'm so glad that I finally read this. I enjoyed it.
I had never read this as a child, and was only familiar with the Disney version. Therefore, this book was full of surprises! Some of my favorite stories, like Rikki Tikki Tavi and many others didn't even make it into the
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film at all. There were even stories about the Arctic! As far as the Mowgli stories, which were wonderful, Kaa was far wiser and was not an antagonist.I'm so glad that I finally read this. I enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. Well, as much as I loved a good half of it. This isn't a novel, but a collection of 15 stories. Eight of them do involve Mowgli, a young Indian boy orphaned by the evil tiger Shere Khan, raised by wolves and who can count as friends and protectors
But there are seven other stories, and these I felt more mixed about. I did love "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" about a brave mongoose versus cobras every bit as much as the Mowgli stories. I really liked two stories of the arctic, "The White Seal" about an Alaskan seal trying to find a sanctuary from men seeking to kill seals for fur and "Quiquern" about Canadian Inuits and their dogs searching for food. I liked "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat" and thought "Toomai of the Elephants" Okay.
But I didn't like "The Undertakers" at all and hated "Her Majesty's Servants." One of the reasons I didn't expect to like Kipling much at all is his reputation as an imperialist and racist. He's notoriously the author of the poem "The White Man's Burden." (And just because you're the first doesn't mean you're the second. Arthur Conan Doyle struck me as uncritical of imperialism but it was clear from his stories he was no racist--even believed in racial intermarriage. Kipling's views are quite different judging from the introduction to the edition I read.) Despite Kipling's politics though I found reading this book there were good reasons why Indian authors such as Arundhati Roy, V.S. Naipaul and Salman Rushdie find Kipling impressive and even influential. Kipling can be a wonderful storyteller. Rushdie has said Kipling's writing has "the power simultaneously to infuriate and to entrance." Mostly I was entranced. But a few times, and especially in "Her Majesty's Servants," I thought the dark side of Kipling, and his unapologetic imperialism and certainty everyone had their place and should obediently stay in it, was at its worst.
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Bagheera the black panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the rock python. I've actually never seen the famous Disney film made from those stories, but that might have helped make the reading experience all the more fresh and delightful. What particularly struck me was the close observation of nature and animals evident right from the first sentence. If I were rating the Mowgli stories alone, I'd rank this book a five. But there are seven other stories, and these I felt more mixed about. I did love "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" about a brave mongoose versus cobras every bit as much as the Mowgli stories. I really liked two stories of the arctic, "The White Seal" about an Alaskan seal trying to find a sanctuary from men seeking to kill seals for fur and "Quiquern" about Canadian Inuits and their dogs searching for food. I liked "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat" and thought "Toomai of the Elephants" Okay.
But I didn't like "The Undertakers" at all and hated "Her Majesty's Servants." One of the reasons I didn't expect to like Kipling much at all is his reputation as an imperialist and racist. He's notoriously the author of the poem "The White Man's Burden." (And just because you're the first doesn't mean you're the second. Arthur Conan Doyle struck me as uncritical of imperialism but it was clear from his stories he was no racist--even believed in racial intermarriage. Kipling's views are quite different judging from the introduction to the edition I read.) Despite Kipling's politics though I found reading this book there were good reasons why Indian authors such as Arundhati Roy, V.S. Naipaul and Salman Rushdie find Kipling impressive and even influential. Kipling can be a wonderful storyteller. Rushdie has said Kipling's writing has "the power simultaneously to infuriate and to entrance." Mostly I was entranced. But a few times, and especially in "Her Majesty's Servants," I thought the dark side of Kipling, and his unapologetic imperialism and certainty everyone had their place and should obediently stay in it, was at its worst.
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LibraryThing member readafew
The Jungle Books are a bit different than I was expecting. The biggest thing I didn't know was that they are anthologies, not a novel. 2nd not all the stories are about Mowgli and crew. Most of the stories took place somewhere in India but there was one it each book that was very different. The
One of the biggest surprises was that several of the stories were much more gory than I had expected from the 'hype', not bad but a few of them I would be have to consider before reading to a 7 year old. Overall I enjoyed this book, it's worthwhile reading.
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first book had a story about seals and the second about Eskimos. It was a little weird. One of the biggest surprises was that several of the stories were much more gory than I had expected from the 'hype', not bad but a few of them I would be have to consider before reading to a 7 year old. Overall I enjoyed this book, it's worthwhile reading.
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LibraryThing member rockhopper_penguin
Don't let Disney put you off this -- it's neither sentimental nor soppy. This is an imaginative and sensitive collection of short stories, which do nothing less than imagine the animal kingdom as not the polar opposite to human society but as a parallel society with their own laws and customs.
In short -- if, like me, you had somewhat negative preconceptions of Kipling's work, it's well worth putting them aside and trying reading it. You will probably find it quite different to what you were expecting.
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Anyone with an interest in mythology or cultural traditions will find a lot to like in this book. Neither do you have to be a fan of British colonialism: Kipling does not seem to take some of the simplistic attitudes towards India or the British empire that some (but not all) members of the British Raj seemed to take.In short -- if, like me, you had somewhat negative preconceptions of Kipling's work, it's well worth putting them aside and trying reading it. You will probably find it quite different to what you were expecting.
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LibraryThing member susanbevans
I read this book when I was in high school for and English class. I got more out of it by picking it up again as an adult. The stories are so rich and involved. When you're reading Kipling you hear the song of the jungle - and you want to be there.
LibraryThing member Whiskey3pa
Really good reading. Like Dickens, it is better read out loud, just sounds so good. Every kid should here these stories.
LibraryThing member ECraine
A beautifully written book with very poetic language that imagines a fantasy world based on reality. The majority of the characters are not too well developed, but somehow the reader becomes attached to them anyway and looks forward to their recurrence in subsequent chapters. Young reader’s will
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likely be enamored of Mowgli’s life in the jungle and his ability to communicate with all the animals. There are “darker” aspects in this book (death, murder, revenge, betrayal etc.), but they contribute to the storytelling and understanding of the characters. This is a book that does not have to be read all the way through, as the chapters are non-linear and present mostly independent snapshots into the jungle life. However, a complete story does eventually evolve, and the final chapter on Mowgli’s life is quite affecting. Show Less
LibraryThing member momma2
I am glad we read 'Just So Stories' first because I don't know if we would have gone out of our way to read another story by Rudyard Kipling after reading 'The Jungle Books.' The stories about Mowgli were by far the favorites and Rikki Tikki was exciting but we were less than enchanted with this
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book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Smiler69
I had come across references to The Jungle Book numerous times over the years, most recently in The Tiger's Wife, where it plays quite an important role, which convinced me it was time to acquaint myself with this classic of children's literature. I vaguely recall reading the abridged and
Had I only rated the Mowgli stories as a whole, some favourites of which are Mowgli's Brothers, Kaa's Hunting, How Fear Came, Red Dog, along with another great favourite, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi—about the eponymous mongoose who outwits a pair of dangerous snakes—I would probably have given the books four stars at least. But some of the other stories, such as Her Majesty's Servants, The Undertakers and Quiquern did not at all appeal to me and diluted the experience. Because of this, it is very likely that I will read my favourite selection from the Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book again sometime, and will likely appreciate those stories all the more as I revisit what will by then have become familiar and beloved characters.
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illustrated Mowgli stories as a child, but was quite unprepared for what I found in this omnibus version containing both Jungle Books. The first thing that struck me was the level of sophistication of the stories, which seemed to be possibly too complex, in language at least, to be fully intelligible to children today. The second thing which surprised me was that other than the Mowgli stories—about a boy raised by wolves who becomes the king of the jungle, so to speak—none of the other short stories were set in the jungle, and in at least a couple of them, animals were secondary characters only. As is the case with most people, I enjoyed the Mowgli stories most, because of the jungle setting and the variety of wild animals who each in turn are given ample room to express themselves and display their anthropomorphized characters. I've always been fascinated by the notion that certain human beings have a gift for communicating with and understanding animals, and was well regaled here, albeit only in fantasy. It's impossible to read these stories and not be impressed by the unique mentalities and behaviour of the main characters; Akela the wolf, Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther, Kaa the snake and of course the lame tiger Shere Khan, have all become legendary because each has important life lessons to teach Mowgli and the reader, but more importantly because they become familiar to us as the stories progress while also retaining their mythical status. Had I only rated the Mowgli stories as a whole, some favourites of which are Mowgli's Brothers, Kaa's Hunting, How Fear Came, Red Dog, along with another great favourite, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi—about the eponymous mongoose who outwits a pair of dangerous snakes—I would probably have given the books four stars at least. But some of the other stories, such as Her Majesty's Servants, The Undertakers and Quiquern did not at all appeal to me and diluted the experience. Because of this, it is very likely that I will read my favourite selection from the Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book again sometime, and will likely appreciate those stories all the more as I revisit what will by then have become familiar and beloved characters.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
If you've only experienced Disney's version of the Mowgli stories, the books will show you a whole new world. The jungle is a dark and often violent place. Kipling's adventure tales are also commentaries on what he saw in the world of his time, and adults will find them as enthralling as their
Many editions of these tales are heavily abridged...always to their detriment, in my opinion. My parents gave me this edition when I was 11 and it's remained my favorite. Whichever version you read, make sure it's a complete one as the stories of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Toomai and the others are just as good a read as the more famous Mowgli adventures.
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children.Many editions of these tales are heavily abridged...always to their detriment, in my opinion. My parents gave me this edition when I was 11 and it's remained my favorite. Whichever version you read, make sure it's a complete one as the stories of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Toomai and the others are just as good a read as the more famous Mowgli adventures.
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LibraryThing member trancon
This book I did not get to get ahold of, however I did get to watch the VHS film of it. There is the Disney version and the live-action version that I watched called "Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book." I loved seeing the relationships build between Mogli and the creatures in the jungle. I loved
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that even though they would be considered wild animals, they stood by his side and kept strong bonds with him. Show Less
LibraryThing member mbmackay
The famous and popular children's book of Kipling. I had long heard of the stories and been aware of this book, but never before read it. While it is, of course, quite different from and much better than the Hollywood movie of the same name, I was still a little disappointed. Kipling is such a
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talented word-smith that I expected more. It is definitely a book of its era - some of its accepted wisdom is no longer accepted. And the lazy shiftless monkey tribe may or may not have been Kipling's dig at the Indian population? Read as eBook August 2013. Show Less
LibraryThing member jawalter
eBook
Once again, I'm struck by the savagery that resonates throughout Kipling's writing. It would be so easy to think of The Jungle Book in a more Disney-fied light: talking animals, singing, the rhythmic cadences of a fairy tale or lullaby. But overarching all that is the ever-present reminder
The story I found most interesting, however, was the one which closes the book, "Her Majesty's Servants." The characters of this particular story are the camp animals for an army, but paradoxically, these might be the most innocent characters in the whole book. All their conversation is about war and its methods, but without any real recognition of what it means. These animals have been tamed by man, stripped of their natural instincts, and so, with the exception of the elephant, they don't realize what war means, content merely to follow orders and limit their perspective to the specifics of their duties.
And maybe that's the true lesson of The Jungle Book. Yes, it's violent, endlessly circling and returning to the themes of death and danger, but in the world of the animals, death and danger exists because they are necessary parts of life. Animals must eat, so animals must hunt and kill. But for people, violence is stripped of that which makes it necessary. Wars don't happen for food and survival; they happen for sport and profit.
Or maybe I'm just a filthy hippie.
Once again, I'm struck by the savagery that resonates throughout Kipling's writing. It would be so easy to think of The Jungle Book in a more Disney-fied light: talking animals, singing, the rhythmic cadences of a fairy tale or lullaby. But overarching all that is the ever-present reminder
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that the world of the jungle is a world of nature, red in tooth and claw. Mowgli is raised by wolves and instructed by Baloo for the explicit purpose of survival in a harsh world that actively seeks his death. Kotick is born and raised amidst bloodshed from two distinct sources: other seals and man. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" subverts the traditional story of a pet protecting his master by making the masters little more than incidental characters; Rikki-Tikki wants to protect them, but his actions are driven by instinct rather than any familial bond with the humans. Even in the less-obviously blood-drenched stories, violence is a powerful force. Toomai's journey to witness the dance of the elephants puts him at great risk of death.The story I found most interesting, however, was the one which closes the book, "Her Majesty's Servants." The characters of this particular story are the camp animals for an army, but paradoxically, these might be the most innocent characters in the whole book. All their conversation is about war and its methods, but without any real recognition of what it means. These animals have been tamed by man, stripped of their natural instincts, and so, with the exception of the elephant, they don't realize what war means, content merely to follow orders and limit their perspective to the specifics of their duties.
And maybe that's the true lesson of The Jungle Book. Yes, it's violent, endlessly circling and returning to the themes of death and danger, but in the world of the animals, death and danger exists because they are necessary parts of life. Animals must eat, so animals must hunt and kill. But for people, violence is stripped of that which makes it necessary. Wars don't happen for food and survival; they happen for sport and profit.
Or maybe I'm just a filthy hippie.
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LibraryThing member afrazier13
This book is about a young boy who is raised in the jungle by wild animals. Once he is grown enough to make it on his own the animals try to convince him to go live in the human world. But he doesn't want to leave his home in the jungle.
My personal experience is this book uses tone in a way that
the children could do a study on animals that live in the jungle.
the children could take a trip to the zoo to see some of the animals in real life.
My personal experience is this book uses tone in a way that
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really makes you understand how hard the decision is for this boy and fall in love with his life in the jungle. the children could do a study on animals that live in the jungle.
the children could take a trip to the zoo to see some of the animals in real life.
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LibraryThing member christineplouvier
Great short stories from the era when India was the jewel in the British Empire's crown. When I was a young child, this was the book that first gave me the notion of becoming a writer when I grew up.
LibraryThing member Benedict8
I highly recommend theses stories
LibraryThing member MinDea
I was super excited to read this book before seeing the new movie. I didn't realize this, but the Jungle Books are a bunch of short stories, some of which, are about Mowgli and the characters we know from Disney's The Jungle Book. The stories about Mowgli and the Jungle are OK. A little dry and
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boring at times. The other stories, however, are EXTREMELY boring and VERY dry. There were only a couple stories I liked that didn't have Mowgli in them; the mongoose story, the seal story and the elephant story. Other than that, the other stories were kind of painful to get through... I wonder if I am the only one that felt that way..... :-/ Show Less
LibraryThing member caanderson
I have had this on my must read for years. So glad I finally sat down and read it. Great stories with a thousand comas. Loved them all.
LibraryThing member nkmunn
I know these stories by heart, almost!
LibraryThing member sometimeunderwater
The Mowgli stories are great fun and suitably mythic. "Mang the Bat" is a great potential band name.
The other stories are beyond tedious. A mongoose kills a snake, a seal finds a new island, and some war horses chat to each other at night. My edition comes with the Second Jungle Book, which I had
The other stories are beyond tedious. A mongoose kills a snake, a seal finds a new island, and some war horses chat to each other at night. My edition comes with the Second Jungle Book, which I had
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no desire to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member benuathanasia
I read Rikki Tikki Tavi a few years ago with my seventh graders and loved it. When I started this collection, I began with the first two Mowgli stories and loved them.
Then I read the afterword. The editor of the books wrote "Kipling [was] a fascinating failure - a writer of considerable yet
I scoffed at this assessment. Surely this could not be a portrayal of the same author whose brilliance I have just read?
Then I continued reading. Ugh...how much more tedious and painful the stories became; each worse than the last. I do not regret reading the first few stories of Mowgli, or the story of my most beloved mongoose. But, other than that, I want my time back. These were bad.
Then I read the afterword. The editor of the books wrote "Kipling [was] a fascinating failure - a writer of considerable yet
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uncertain and ruined talent." I scoffed at this assessment. Surely this could not be a portrayal of the same author whose brilliance I have just read?
Then I continued reading. Ugh...how much more tedious and painful the stories became; each worse than the last. I do not regret reading the first few stories of Mowgli, or the story of my most beloved mongoose. But, other than that, I want my time back. These were bad.
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LibraryThing member Clurb
I expected to love this one but really wasn't that taken with it.
LibraryThing member kslade
More adult level than I thought. Mowgli is like a Tarzan with the wolves and Kaa is a friend. Some stories are in a different place completely with different characters. Mostly good reading. Not like Disney at all.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1894: The Jungle Book
1895: The Second Jungle Book
Physical description
336 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0451523407 / 9780451523402