Product Description

Man-Eaters of Kumaon, The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, and The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon, the three classic collections of Corbett's hunting stories, which vividly bring to life the drama and beauty of the jungle and its wildlife are here brought together in a single volume for the first time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28532 in Books
• Published on: 1991-08-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 606 pages

Customer Reviews

Jim Corbett's Tiger Tales
My Grandfather knew and hunted with Jim Corbett and often told me tales of camping out in the jungle, straining their ears for the tiger's calls. He let me read this book when I was nine, which helps explain why I developed such an acute fear of tigers - the vivid descriptions of the scenery and atmosphere made the hairs on my neck stand up. The savage attacks and cunning intelligence of the man-eaters gave me many a nightmare. Now, a couple of decades on I still have a phobia of tigers, thanks to the effect of a powerfully descriptive book on a child's imagination.

When my Grandfather passed away this month I chose the book as a memento, and whilst I read tentatively at first, I soon became engrossed. This time round I have found the books to be exciting, compelling and in some ways very beautiful. The visual picture Corbett draws is fantastic. His elegant illustrations of the jungle, the rawness of human emotions and the power of the man-eaters - combine to make stories which have endured over half a century without losing impact.

I was pleased to discover that they are still in print, and bought the series of books with the intention of retiring the dog-eared original. Having re-read the books I am no less scared of their subjects, but I am also slightly in awe too and strangely fond of a book that ultimately helped shape my imagination.

A wonderful 'period piece' - not for the squeamish..
Jim Corbett has produced a fascinating record of his years spent hunting man-eating tigers and leopards in the foothills of the Himalayas. The author does not demonise these animals, and is at pains to explain the circumstances which create the man-eater.
The book is written in a straightforward, easy to read style, and its episodic nature makes it easy to 'dip in and out of'. The detailed description of his hunting and tracking techniques, with vivid reference to the flora and fauna of the jungle, takes the reader on a riveting journey in which one can almost hear the growl in the undergrowth...
Corbett's deep affection for the local people and their way of life is evident from his sympathetic and fascinating description of their folklore, their religious practises, and their reaction to the man-eaters in their midst. He describes the horrors which he has witnessed in a matter-of-fact yet always respectful manner, and pulls no punches in relating the impact of such incidents on village and family life.
This book is a poignant and reflective record of a way of life now much changed, and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the natural world and in social history. I thoroughly recommend it as a treasured addition to my bookcase.

Brilliant for anyone with an interest in Wildlife
Jim Corbett's writing is so vivid and descriptive that the reader finds themselves sitting in the Jungle with the writer. He brings across perfectly the terror of sitting in a tree in the dead of night, waiting for the moon to rise and suddenly realising that the roles are reversed and the leopard is on the branch behind you, with only a 'boma' of thorn bush keeping you apart.

Although considered to be one of the 'Great White Hunters' these books are not a case of 'I saw a big thing thing and I shot it...'. Jim Corbett shows a deep love and understanding of the ecology of the Indian Jungle and through his prose paints an incredible picture in the reader's mind.

I thoroughly recommend any of his books to anyone who has an interest in wildlife.