Rudyard Kipling

The Jungle Book — (1894) Ages 9-12. Publisher: Children will delight in this unabridged version of Rudyard Kipling’s classics, Jungle Books One and Two! Not only does this attractive volume feature the beloved tales of Mowgli, the “man cub” raised by wolves, and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but also the lesser-known but wonderful stories of Toomai, the boy who gets to see elephants dance; Quiquern, who saves his Eskimo people from starvation; and Kotick, the white seal.

The Jungle Book

Good Hunting All That Keep the Jungle Law...

If you were to ask anyone to describe The Jungle Book, they would probably take their cue from the widely known Disney film and say that it was about a young boy who was raised by wolves in the jungle, mentored by a bear and a panther, and who eventually kills a dangerous tiger. In this they'd be right, but they'd only be describing the first three chapters.

The rest of the book is a series of unrelated short stories about other animals, and which are not necessarily set in the jungle either. I was surprised at this, as although I knew that Disney had extensively reshaped the story, I had no idea that Mowgli's story was such a comparatively small part of the book. To my knowledge, Rudyard Kipling's characters have also featured in an anime series and a live-action film, and in both cases there has been no indication that the source material involved anything other than a boy called Mowgli and his adventures growing up in the jungle.

Though I had known that Disney had extensively reworked Kipling's book (as Disney is accustomed to do with its film adaptations) it was surprising to find out the real scope and beauty of the original collection of stories, and just how deeply the film had permeated public awareness of what the story involved. Here Mowgli's story doesn't end when he rejoins the man-village, Kaa the snake is not an enemy but an ally, Shere Khan is not defeated with fire but with a well-strategized buffalo stampede, and there are no vultures that sound like The Beatles (though you probably had that one figured out on your own). If there's one thing that especially stands out, it's that Mowgli in this story is much more likeable and intelligent than the loathsome little brat of the film.

After Mowgli's father is killed in the jungle, he is raised by a wolf pack as one of their own, called "the frog" on account of his gangly limbs, and tutored by Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther in the ways of the Jungle Law: the fair but sometimes harsh edicts that make up life among the animals. Having escaped captivity at an early age, Bagheera in particular is serious about Mowgli's education, hoping that when he finally returns to his own people, he can take knowledge of the Jungle Law with him to teach his fellow man.

Yet Mowgli is not easily accepted by either beast or man. Not only are the young wolves threatened by their inability to look him in the eye, but Shere Khan the tiger considers Mowgli his rightful prey. Likewise, the men and women of the village find the boy disconcerting in his habits and strange upbringing, making Mowgli quite a tragic figure in his inability to find a true home among either animals or mankind.

The first three chapters of The Jungle Book revolve around Mowgli's story: his upbringing in the first chapter and defeat of Shere Khan in the third, leaving the second (rather oddly, considering it's out of chronological order) to deal with his kidnapping at the hands of the Bandar-log, the Monkey People. Kipling is wonderful at capturing the mystery and atmosphere of the jungle, as well as the fundamental character traits of the animals (the thoughtless monkeys, the malevolent jackal, the wise panther, the complex wolf-pack dynamics). He introduces concepts such as the Jungle Law and the Red Flower, the animal etiquette used in the sharing of hunting grounds and the way in which they address each other, and each species' unique customs and idioms. It's all fascinating stuff, carefully strewn throughout the story to provide a rich background to the world that Mowgli inhabits.

The stories that follow are not quite as memorable, but still hold up well, and a couple have been published separately as their own books ("Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and "Toomai of the Elephants.")

"The White Seal" involves the birth of a strange white seal called Kotick who — after witnessing the mass slaughter of his fellows at the hands of sealers — takes it upon himself to traverse the seas in search of a safe beach that has not been discovered by man. It takes several years and a visitation with the mysterious sea-cows before he can finally return to his people and tell them of his discoveries. It's at this point that a certain sense of values dissonance kicks in. Does Kotick convince his fellow seals to follow him to the promised land through his strong leadership and rousing speeches? No, he beats them all to a bloody pulp and insists on them following him once they've all been defeated.

Outside of Mowgli's chapters, "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" is probably the most famous of Kipling's short stories. A mongoose is adopted into the home of an English family living in the jungles of Sugauli cantonment, where it soon learns that a cobra and its mate are planning to kill the little boy in the attempt to drive the family away and reclaim the bungalow for themselves. Aided by other animals in the house and garden, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi prepares to defend his home and family against the snakes with a series of ambushes, tricks and his instinctive fighting abilities. This is definitely the most appealing of the stand-alone stories.

"Toomai of the Elephants" concerns a young Indian boy who works with his father in the rounding-up and breaking-in of elephants for the Indian government. Having grown up among them, he has no fear of the elephants that he can control with simple words and hand gestures. Though his father prefers camp life, it is Toomai's greatest ambition to go hunting for the elephants in the jungle, though he is told that this will only occur when he "sees the elephants dance" (that is, never). But one night Kala Nag and the other trained elephants are acting strangely, and when several manage to break free of their pickets, Toomai climbs aboard Kala and is taken to mysterious clearing where elephants from miles around have indeed come to dance...

In many ways "Her Majesty's Servants" feels like the odd one out in this collection. More for adults than children (who may find it rather incomprehensible) Kipling provides a first-person narrative account of a British soldier who eavesdrops on a number of animals in service to the army. As each one tries to explain, justify and comprehend their roles in the service of mankind, the listener is struck by the differences between each one, and their understanding of the world they inhabit. Up until this story, Kipling has managed to steer surprisingly clear of imperialism and unfortunate implications; here, however, he mentions "savage men and savage horses from somewhere at the back of Asia" and "a wild king of a very wild country," and ends the story on a note of British superiority over the disorganization of its colonies. For these reasons, "Her Majesty's Servants" doesn't hold up as well as the other stories.

As well as the seven short stories, the book also contains several poems, songs and chants, usually said to be performed by the animals themselves.

Just as many readers are unaware that Little Women is composed of two books (Little Womenand Good Wives) and that most of Alice's famous adventures took place in the sequel Behind the Looking Glass, it's a relatively little-known fact that there was a sequel to The Jungle Book. Known simply as The Second Jungle Book, it includes several more Mowgli adventures as well as other stand-alone stories and poems. Many editions of The Jungle Book combine both the first and second book into one volume, though it's difficult to tell which is which, considering Amazon.com has grouped all the reviews togethe, regardless of what edition is being discussed. It's hard to know exactly what you'll be getting when you make the order, so keep in mind that it's easy to miss out on the sequel. There is also the risk of buying an abridged version that cuts out stories or tampers with Kipling's use of language (his use of the archaic terms "thee" and "thou" in discussions among the animals), so please be careful in deciding which edition to purchase.

All in all, The Jungle Book is still a rich and intriguing read, with only a few dated passages. At the very least, it's worth reading in order to get an understanding of the source material as it was before Disney put its stamp on it. —Rebecca Fisher

The Second Jungle Book — (1895) Publisher: Rudyard Kipling's "The Second Jungle Book" is a classic collection of fables set predominately in the Indian jungle with animal characters used to teach moral lessons. A sequel to the popular 1894 work, "The Jungle Book", this volume includes five additional stories of one of Kipling's most famous characters, Mowgli, a 'man-cub' raised by wolves, as well as three unrelated stories. In "The Second Jungle Book" Kipling provides a set of entertaining stories which will enchant and educate readers both young and old.

The Second Jungle Book

Now This Is the Law of the Jungle, As Old and As True As the Sky...

Most people are unaware that Rudyard Kipling wrote a sequel to his first highly successful anthology of stories, probably because most editions combine the two into one volume (much like the merging of Louisa Alcott's Little Women and Good Wives). But for what it's worth, the sequel (or second half) of The Jungle Book is better than its predecessor.

The first book contained seven stories and a collection of poems, only three of which concerned Kipling's most famous literary creation: Mowgli, the feral child raised by wolves and learned in the ways of the Jungle Law. The second book comprises eight stories, five of which centre on the adventures of Mowgli and his animal companions, as well as three unconnected short stories and the usual collection of poems.

"The Miracle of Purun Bhagat" is a beautiful, haunting story about an Indian Prime Minister who gives up his career and lifestyle in order to become a holy man on the outskirts of a remote mountain village. This decision is not treated as a big deal within the narrative, for: "India is the one place in the world where a man can do as he pleases and nobody asks why; and the fact that Sir Purun Dass had resigned position, palace, and power, and taken up the begging bowl and ochre-coloured dress of a holy man, was considered nothing extraordinary."

Once established within the small hillside shrine, Purun partakes in deep mediation in an attempt to grasp the fundamentals of life and the universe, but it's not until the small village is threatened by a landslide that the long-awaited miracle of the title is performed.

"The Undertakers" is very much like the first Jungle Book's "Her Majesty's Servants" in that the story is essentially the private conversation that takes place between several animals: in this case, a jackal, an adjutant bird, and a crocodile. Focusing on their bad reputations as predators/scavengers, and touching briefly on the Mutiny, this story (much like its predecessor in the first book) probably won't be popular with young readers.

"Quiquern" is to the second Jungle Book what "The White Seal" was to the first: a story that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with either India or the jungle, and so ends up feeling completely random and out of place. However, that's not to say that it's bad. Concerning an Inuit family living in the Arctic Circle, Kipling provides a harrowing portrayal of the very real struggle for survival that goes on in the winter months, as well as describing the stark beauty and mystery of the northern lands. When the food supplies in his village run low, young Kotuko follows a vision of the spirit Quiquern in a last desperate attempt to find sustenance for his people. Why it's part of an anthology called The Jungle Book is anyone's guess, but it's a haunting story told so vividly that you're likely to feel cold whilst reading it.

But it's the story of Mowgli that most readers will pick up the book for, and some of his best adventures are to be found here. They include "How Fear Came," which can be easily likened to one of Aesop's fables in the way Mowgli learns how fear was born amongst the animals of the jungle, as well as how the tiger got his stripes and the origins of the Water Truce that exists in times of drought, allowing animals of all kinds to drink without fear at the available waterholes.

This is followed by "Letting in the Jungle," in which we see a much darker side to Mowgli when he instructs the jungle animals to destroy the man-village after the life of his human foster-mother is threatened, and "The King Ankus" in which he returns to the ruined city in the midst of the jungle and finds a hidden treasure guarded by a half-mad white cobra. He takes a jewelled elephant ankus with him, though is warned that it will bring only death — and sure enough, Mowgli witnesses the destruction that it generates when it is stolen by a group of hunters.

In "Red Dog" Mowgli allies himself with his old friend Kaa the python in order to rid the jungle of a pack of vicious wild dogs, and together they concoct a clever scheme involving a gorge full of beehives, a swift-flowing river, and the strength of the wolf pack. Finally, in the poignant "The Spring Running," Mowgli finds himself struck by a strange melancholy that he can find no solution to — at least not until he revisits the man-village. Perhaps it's finally time for him to return to the man-pack...?

In his other books, I've sometimes found Kipling's prose a little dry and meandering; here it is deep and rich and beautiful. It's a shame that the Disney film is usually considered the "quintessential" version of this tale, for there is so much to be found and valued in the original text. Many of the characters are profoundly different — Kaa is not a villain with hypnotic powers, but a wise-yet-uncanny friend — and concepts such as the Jungle Law and the Water Truce are explored in further depth. Of course, there will always be debate surrounding Kipling's politics and views on race (the presence of white colonists in India is far more pronounced in the sequel) but as a collection of well-told tales, The Jungle Book (and its sequel) makes for quality reading.
—Rebecca Fisher

Puck of Pook's Hill — (1906) Ages 9-12. Publisher: When Dan and Una stage a performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in a fairy ring, they are astonished by the appearance of Puck in person. He explains that he is the last of the People of the Hills, and leads the children in a series of extraordinary historical adventures.

Puck of Pook’s Hill

The Sword Gave the Treasure, and the Treasure Gave the Law…

Puck of Pook’s Hill is certainly not as famous as Rudyard Kipling's earlier works The Jungle Book, Captains Courageous, or even The Complete Stalky and Co.. First published in 1906, it was his final novel (only an anthology of short stories came after it) and it is certainly an odd specimen of a book.

Siblings Una and Dan are in the right place at the right time when they perform their abridged version of A Midsummer Night's Dream and find that they have unknowingly called up the very cheerful, very English spirit of Puck. Puck (also known as Robin Goodfellow) introduces Dan and Una to a variety of figures that he plucks out of time in order to tell tales of England's history to the children. These include a Norman knight, a Roman legionary and a Jewish money-lender, all of whom lived and participated in turning-points of English history, such as the Norman Conquest, the defense of Hadrian's Wall and the signing of the Magna Carter.

It is not an adventure story, as one might expect from Kipling's previous works of fiction, rather it is made up of episodic stories told by the visitors from England's past. Framed by the fairytale-esque meeting with Puck, the bulk of the novel concerns the stories told in first-person narrative to the children. Dan and Una are passive listeners, though we do get some glimpses of the world through their eyes, as we discover that they've given nicknames to most of the landmarks around their home. This links into the general theme of the book as a whole: that of the consistency and changefulness of England itself. One can sense Kipling's great love of the country in the way with which he describes it: full of mystery and beauty.

The most interesting fragments are Puck's abridged history on his own people, the fairies or "People of the Hills" as he prefers. As someone who dislikes the sweet and precious portrayal of fairies that became so prevalent during and after the Victorian Era, I got a kick out of Puck's opinion on the matter: "the People of the Hills don't care to be confused with that painty-winged, wand-waving, sugar-and-shake-your-head set of imposters!"

Also interesting are several recognizable elements that pop up later in the works of C.S. Lewis. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia once cited Rudyard Kipling as an inspiration to him, and there are several passages that have a familiar echo of his later books. Puck calls the children "Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve," for example, and particular emphasis is put on the village of Pevensey, where most of the historical action takes place. Perhaps the surname of "Pevensie" for Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy was derived from this — it seems a rather large coincidence otherwise!

But by today's standards, it's difficult to tell whether it still has appeal and relevance for a general reading audience. The language has certainly dated, and it's undeniable that the story itself is unusual, with none of the timelessness of The Jungle Book. It's almost as if Kipling had a range of unconnected stories concerning English history that he wanted told, and so used the conceit of Puck as a vehicle in presenting them (along with a series of poems interspersed between chapters, many of which are lovely, and yet still rather piecemeal). However, as a classic book of early children's literature it is very valuable, and open-minded children may find it intriguing, particularly those who are showing the early signs of being future history-buffs. —Rebecca Fisher

With the Night Mail: A Story of 2000 A.D. — (1909) Publisher: Kipling's delightful science fiction tale, first written in 1904, imagining a then-impossible overnight air flight from London to Canada, which takes place in December of the year 2000. Includes selections from the fictional air flight magazine in which Kipling described the risks, prices and social comedy of a flying world. Great gift for Kipling fans, science fiction readers, and anyone interested in the historical imagination.

Rudyard Kipling's Fantasy Stories — (2004) Publisher: This contains: By Word of Mouth; The Finances of the Gods; The Finest Story in the World; The Children of the Zodiac; The Bridge Builders; The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo; They; The House Surgeon; The Knife and the Naked Chalk; The Village that Voted the Earth Was Flat; The Gardner; and When Earth's Last Picture is Painted.

Rudyard Kipling's Tales of Horror and Fantasy — (2008) Publisher: From ghost stories to psychological suspense, the complete horror and dark fantasy stories of Rudyard Kipling. Rudyard Kipling, a major figure of English literature, used the full power and intensity of his imagination and his writing ability in his excursions into fantasy. Kipling is considered one of England's greatest writers, but was born in Bombay. He was educated in England, but returned to India in 1882, where he began writing fantasy and supernatural stories set in his native continent: "The Phantom Rickshaw," "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes," and his most famous horror story, "The Mark of the Beast" (1890). This masterwork collection, edited by Stephen Jones (Britain's most accomplished and acclaimed anthologist) for the first time collects all of Kipling's fantastic fiction, ranging from traditional ghostly tales to psychological horror.