Jungle Books

Kipling's allegory, The Jungle Books, set in India and filled with high adventure and extraordinary characters that touch both our intellect and our emotions, is an unforgettable mythic tale of a boy Mowgli, the fearless man-cub, looking for where he truly belongs—among the pack of wolves or the pack of men in the village. Brought up by wolves, Mowgli learns the jungle language and ways, the rule of loyalty and the need of alterness as good as the other forest creatures. With Mowgli, readers meet the sinister tiger Shere Khan, who is awaiting secretly to pounce upon him; the rock python Kaa, who dispenses wisdom; the sleek black cunning panther Bagheera; and the aging wolf Akela, who struggles as his leadership of the pack is at stake. In this enduring classic, Kipling strikes a nice balance between anthropomorphizing the animals and understanding Mowgli's natural superiority—a unique feature that has captured the imaginations not only of children but of all readers for generations. Undoubtedly a marvellous book, it is recommended to those who have not read it as a child and also to all others to read it again as an adult.