The Jungle Books

By Rudyard Kipling and John Lockwood Kipling

Book Overview

The story of Mowgli, the abandoned "man-cub" who is brought up by wolves in the jungles of Central India, is one of the greatest literary myths ever created. As he embarks on a series of thrilling escapades, Mowgli encounters such unforgettable creatures as the bear Baloo, the graceful black panther Bagheera and Shere Khan, the tiger with the blazing eyes. Other animal stories in The Jungle Books range from the dramatic battle between good and evil in "Rikki-tikki-tav" to the macabre comedy, "The Undertakers." With The Jungle Books, Rudyard Kipling drew on ancient beast fables, Buddhist philosophy, and memories of his Anglo-Indian childhood to create a rich, symbolic portrait of man and nature, and an eternal classic of childhood. This edition contains both of Kipling's Jungle Books, as well as "In the Rukh," the story that introduced readers to Mowgli.

Part of Penguin's beautiful Hardcover Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141394625
• ISBN13: 9780141394626
• Release Date: May 2015
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Not just Mowgli and his jungle friends, much more

A classic telling various stories primarily set in India, but going to other locales on occasion, it isn't an adventure in the traditional sense, but evokes a similar mindset of seeking out the dangers that lurk in nature, even incorporating yourself as Mowgli does. And while Mowgli's story dominates the general structure, you also get side stories unrelated to that about other animals making their way in the world and overcoming some challenge, such as Rikki Tikki Tavi or The White Seal. Not only good as a bridge to longer books that have an overarching story because they're more short stories, but also an introduction to Kipling's style that incorporates poetry/song as needed.