Slayride (published in 1973) - By Dick Francis, investigating a disappearing English Jockey in Norway

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
SlayRide is a racing novel amidst the Norwegian back drop. Dick Francis sets the whole cast in Norway where the racing community is very small and therefore invite British Jockeys to give a fillip for their fortunes. Bob Sherman is an English Jockey who disappears with a large sum of the earnings, like sixteen thousand kroner. Embarrassed by the turn of events, the British Jockey Clubs send in an investigator, David Cleveland who tries to understand the case. As he digs deeper he finds many clues where he finds the robbery and escape theory implausible. Bob Sherman leaves behind a pregnant wife and a good career which makes a case for his innocence.



As David goes through the case his life is also in peril. He survives a vicious boating accident and numerous attempts on his life. But slowly and steadily he keeps on the path of the killer and he is flushed out. This book is not one of the finest of Dick Francis books but still holds on its own. Sometimes you might feel a little unfulfilled as the thriller element takes a back seat as Francis rambles about the horse racing scenes in Norway. His prodigious knowledge about Jockeying and the racing scenes around the world with respect to the English racing is great, but its only for the racing fans. Well much of the English Gentlemen thing is also a tad over done especially in this day and age. David has lot of lady friends about whom he thinks polite amoral thoughts is a funny element.
I felt a little let down by this book when compared to his Smokescreen and Rat Race. This may not be a hard to put down kind of book but enjoyable all the same. It is a recommended read at-least a first time read.

Smokescreen (published in 1972) - A movie actor trying to break a mystery related to horses

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Smokescreen slightly deviates from the usual text of Dick Francis where the protagonist is a swash buckling movie star, happily married and much touted family man. Edward “linc” Lincoln is a handsome movie star happily married to Charlotte with three children. Though English, Francis shifts the action away from the English shores to Spain and South Africa. Linc happens to be the star of a Spanish film, “man in the Car” and which while shooting in Spain comes across a draining scene. He is handcuffed and left to die for the shoot which proves to be for real. After this nerve racking experience Linc craves for something akin to a vacation. His godmother, Nerissa asks him to visit her and Linc on meeting her is taken aback by her condition. Nerissa suffering from a kind of cancer has few days to live. She asks Linc to check out her ranch in South Africa where her prized stallions are going bust in all the races.



She wants to leave her stallions to her nephew upon her death and also to Linc. Nerissa in her simplicity feels that the inheritance she leaves should not be a burden to her nephew. Linc agrees to go to South Africa and sort out the issue.
Linc, apart from being a movie star, in his earlier days was actually a prized jockey, whose only fault was to grow very tall. So he knows quite a bit about the horses and meets Nerissa's nephew, Danillo. At first Danillo seems to be a innocent young man, but soon Linc's suspicion shifts to him. Danillo seems to lead a double life and intends to usurp Linc's inheritance as well. As soon as Linc lands in South Africa, continuous attempts on his life takes place and he is compelled to play a game of cat and mouse with a tough assailant. As all the Dick Francis stars, Edward Linc is left battered, but he doggedly pursues the case and helps to get the knots untied.
As usual Dick Francis has come up trumps with a great book of the day and I can assure you that you cannot keep it down even for a second. If you are planning to read through the night get the lights properly checked for you ain't gonna let this go half way. Linc as a hero is superbly sketched and each encounters with the villain brings in goosebumps. South African scenery is well exploited in this book and mind you these are the dark apartheid days. In-spite of little craziness Smokescreen works wonders and is one of the best thriller you can put your money on.

Bonecrack (published in 1971) - Father and son relationships in the world of horses

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Bonecrack is a delightful book which chronicles a father and son relationship. Neil Griffon has racing in his blood and as a son of a world class stable owner and trainer he is a natural. But his father does not have trust in his abilities, which forces him to move away and make a name for himself. Neil comes back when his father suffers an accident and is bed ridden. He takes up the upkeep of the stables intending to hand it over to a efficient trainer as soon as he has found one. But a night changes the equation – when Neil is kidnapped and threatened.



Just as Neil's father never gave anything, Enzo Riviera is ready give everything his son Alessandro asks him. Alessandro wants to become a champion jockey and ride Archangel, the race favorite. Enzo is ready to do anything to get his son's wish come true. Neil is threatened to give in to Enzo's demand. Enzo vows to burn the stables down unless and until Alessandro is allowed to supersede all the other experienced jockeys. Neil has no alternative but to accede to his wishes.
He takes Alessandro under his wing and tries to groom him in to a good jockey. Aless is a snooty and cocky guy with scant regard to authority. But fearful for the stable, Neil perseveres and Alessandro thaws and gets in to the training mode. In an heartwarming finish Neil gets Alessandro do the best things in the world. He also earns the respect of his father and defeats Enzo's evil plots.
I just love Neil Griffon's character who has no great personality except for his dogged determination to save his horses. Many horses do get killed and this might turn off the animal lover, but the pace of the book helps to forgive all. I just loved the story, its heartwarming and ingenious. Dick Francis is a great mystery writer and Bonecrack once again proves it.

For Kicks (published in 1965) - Doping and horse racing - a book by Dick Francis

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He droppd out of school to train as a Jockey and was fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall an d became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded in CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
"For Kicks" is the quintessential Dick Francis book where the Hero tries to solve the mystery in the racing world, but this time it is doping. Daniel Roke, an Australian stud farmer is asked by Earl October to investigate a series of wins posted by unfancied horses at the all England Racing Circuit. Roke is happy in Australia but the money dangled by Mr. October is too juicy a carrot to refuse. It does not help to have dependent siblings and family, the need for money makes it more difficult to refuse the offer. So Roke reaches England to investigate and takes up a job as the stable hand in various stables.



The mystery baffling the officials are the fact that unfancied horses win the race and they appear stimulated. But tests done on them only show an increased adrenaline count with no trace of any drug. The fastest horses are also tested whether they are doped to lose, but these too come negative. Roke disguised as the stable hand at the Earls stable come in to contact with his daughters regularly. He rebuffs the elder one and a tender relationship builds with the younger Elinor.
As the investigations proceed, Roke notices that most of the winners were horses once owned by a Humber or Adams. He gets in to their stables as a stable hand and find the work conditions atrocious. Slowly but steadily he unearths the mystery which ultimately threatens his survival. This may come as a spoiler, but the real scorcher of the book is the method of doping. Using the Pavlovian principle, Francis gives a new doping mantra, fear. Fear incited by prolonged torture followed by a stimulant in this case a whistle makes the horses bolt in terror and win the race. As always Roke is found, tortured and survives to tell the tale and reap the rewards.
An amazing book, crisp and refreshing which only Francis can imagine. Dick Francis builds up the suspense gradually that the reader is completely drawn in to the plot. Unlike his many heroes, Roke is handsome and suave, but goes through the similar travesties in search of answers. One can sense the English society of the seventies, the racing fraternity and the ambience of the field through this amazing book. This one heck of a journey every reader can take.

Nerve (published in 1964) - Jockeys and horses, a book by Dick Francis

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He droppd out of school to train as a Jockey and was fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall an d became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded in CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Rob Finn is the black sheep of the family of talented musicians. Not only he cannot sing he cannot get the love of the woman he wants. Finn is head over heels in love with Joanna who finds his attentions unwarranted due to the fact that they are first cousins. Finn learns to ride at the outback and is hired as a trainey jockey when he reaches England.



He rides the tempestuous horses and his fearlessness helps him to overcome the most beastly ones. Slowly his fame spreads and he is catapulted in to the big league of horse racing. After basking in the glory of great wins he finds sinister going ons around him. Vicious rumors are spread about fellow jockeys and soon suicides and murders happen. Canards are spread about Finn who suddenly find his rides sluggish and his winning streak severely down in the dumps. Word goes around that he has lost his “Nerve”.
As Finn tries to find the answers about himself, he looks into the death of his colleagues and finds similar patterns and rumors surrounding their ends. As he investigates he is kidnapped and is tortured and given up as dead. But the resilient Finn manages to escape and gets the police and tries to piece the puzzle. Now the motivation is to find revenge for his torture and Finn goes against a powerful adversary whose motive is to destroy jockeys who do conform. This tale is the ultimate revenge drama of a determined but unassuming man against the power corridors in the racing land. The ending is superb and you feel for Rob Finn as he struggles to find his place in the competitive world of horse racing and love. He wins the former, but alas I feel cheated as Joanna who rescues him does not return his love.
Again a great racing story from Dick Francis in his typical crisp English. Readers can feel the yesteryears Britain through his writings, especially the English Gentleman's stiff upper-lip. Rob Finn is the typical hero who plods through torture, injury and bad luck to find a smile. Again a great mystery solved with out the high tech devices, just by pursuit and brains. A great book to take home.

Just So Stories (published in 1902) - A collection of children's stories by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works were deemed to be controversial over a period of time. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans Burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Just so stories are a series of “how did it happen stories” designed for children. But adults also enjoy them a great deal because of the interplay of philosophical and religious ideologies. The various stories take their content heavily from Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic traditions and transcend the barriers of culture, color and continents. Another thing about Rudyard Kipling's stories is the language which is refreshing as new rain, it is polite and peppered with witticism and takes us to those days where chivalry and long poetry ruled roost.



The stories include:

How the Whale Got His Throat: Did you know that the whales mouth is criss-crossed by a raft to prevent it from feeding on large animals. This is done as a punishment for its greediness in eating all the animals at sea. So the poor whale can eat only shoals of small fish.

How the Camel Got His Hump: This story tells how the Camel was punished for it laziness with a hump which in-turn helps it to work uninterrupted for 3 days with out food or water.

How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin: The folds of the Rhinoceros is because of the cake crumbs and raisins between its hide put their by a magical Parsee, as a punishment for eating his cake.

How the Leopard Got His Spots: This story tells how the leopard and the Ethiopian painted themselves up all spotty and black to help themselves hunt animals in a shadowy, patchy, dark jungle.

The Elephant's Child: A great account of a curious elephant who got its nose pulled by a crocodile in to a trunk

The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo: This tells us about the Kangaroo who is chased by a Dingo around the world for daring to ask big God Nqa to make him different. All the running made his leg strong and muscular and thus made him different.

The Beginning of the Armadillos: Whats an Armadillo?, Just a Hedgehog and Turtle transforming together to escape from an unfriendly Jaguar. Only Kipling has such imagination!!!!

How the First Letter was Written: According to this, the first letter was written by a little girl Taffy, to her mother to get her fathers spear. This delightful story is about the case of bad artistry all gone wrong causing a wonderful change.

How the Alphabet was Made: So Taffy, causes an unfortunate accident because of her bad drawing in the earlier story and therefore tries to invent alphabets to get her ideas across. So “A” is an inverted craw-fish trying to say AH!!!! delightful concept. Loved this story

The Crab that Played with the Sea: This story is about the crab who interferes with the “play” of the universe and is punished for it. It also tells how it got its pincers, Shell and sideways gait.

The Cat that Walked by Himself: This tale tells the independent nature of the cat who in-spite being domesticated “walks every where and comes anytime”.

The Butterfly that Stamped: This story tells the how the beautiful Queen Balkis helps emperor Suleiman bin Daoud to control his nine hundred and ninety nine wives.

These charming tales will be an splendid antidote for the boredom afflicting your house. Join the family, switch off the TV and read aloud this mystical tales of the world.

The Second Jungle Book (Published in 1895) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like 'White Mans Burden' are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
The Second Jungle Book is a sequel to the Jungle Book and features five stories of Mowgli and three unrelated stories. Kipling has set all these stories in India, but had written the script in Vermont. In the first Story “How Fear Came” all the animals have gathered around the watering hole where Sher Khan the Tiger brags about his ancient right to kill man. Hathi, the chief of elephants tells the story where in ancient times Tha, the king of beast had appointed the tiger as an adjudicator in his absence. That was the time of harmony where all animals were vegetarians. Tiger accidentally kills and runs away and is marked by creeping wines thus getting stripes for his act. Tha gives him the boon of one night when he is never afraid of the hairless beast, man.



The second story is “The Kings Ankus” where Kaa leads Mowgli to a underground lair which is guarded by a cobra. It is a lost city where jewels abound. Mowgli never realizes the worth of other treasures, but takes the bejeweled Ankus against the warnings of the Cobra. When Bagheera informs him that the Ankus is used to hurt elephants, Mowgli casts it away only to be found by a man. It leaves a trail of killings and Mowgli much, chastened takes it back. In Letting in the Jungle, Mowgli takes revenge from the villagers who imprison his adopted mother Messua with the help of Hathi the elephant.
In Red dog, Mowgli is warned by a waylaid wolf, Won-Tella about a marauding pack of Dhole or wild dogs. Mowgli urges his pack to stay and fight. With the help of Kaa he lays a trap for the Dhole and leads them to the terrible hives. The Dhole are decimated, but Akela, the wolf chief is mortally wounded. In his dying words, he urges Mowgli to seek his kind as he has paid his debt to his adopted wolf family.
The Spring Running is the last of the Mowgli stories. As a seventeen year old Mowgli feels the first awakening of attraction in him. He meets his mother Messua who now is a widow with a small son. On his visit he cannot keeps his eyes off a pretty girl. Bagheera tells him to listen to his instincts and ask him to return to his world. Mowgli leaves his pack to lead a human life.
The other stories involve "The miracle of Puran Bhagat", a politician turned holy man who saves the village from a landslide with the help of animals and “the Undertakers” which is a story of a crocodile, a stork and a jackal with their struggles against man. The last story is Quiqern, which is a nice break from the tropical jungle and takes place in an arctic jungle. Here the a young Inuit, Kotuko along with a girl companion follow a spirit called Quiqern. They need to find a seal and food supplies or their tribe is doomed. As Kotuko travels he finds that the spirit is really two live dogs leading them to the seal. Kotuko accomplishes his mission of getting food for his people.
The second Jungle book is more intense and more adventurous than the first one. It has more things to grab the attention of even the vicious Internet game fanatic. I am not ten anymore, but the tales and lores of Kipling's jungle gives me goose pimples even now. Just read it with your children and leave them in your debt forever. If not read it alone to be transported to a magical kingdom of the man cub and his friends. These tales never age, right?

The Jungle book (published in 1894) - A collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Jungle book is a collection of seven stories featuring anthropomorphic animals and humans in a very Indian setting. These stories may have morals and symbolism but the foremost idea is to entertain and thus equating them with the Aesop fables are futile. This book has gone in to the public domain and are a part of the Project Gutenberg for viewing.



For me the first mention of Jungle book brings to mind the cherished memory of Mowgli the man cub brought up by the wolves. Mowgli is found by a she-wolf who nurses the baby along with her cubs. He grows up with the pack along with friends like Bagheera, the panther and Baloo, the Bear and Kaa, the python. He has his wolf brothers and the leader of the pack Akela to fight for him. This story chronicles the life of Mowgli and his fight with his arch enemy, Sher Khan, the Tiger. Devious devices and petty jealousies drive Mowgli to the human settlement where he is taken care of by Messua and her husband. But Mowgli can never be away from the jungle and he comes back. He kills Sher Khan, reunites with his brothers and joins the pack as a full fledged contributing member. The chronicles of Mowgli is told through 3 stories namely, “Mowgli's Brothers”, “Kaa's Hunting” and “Tiger, Tiger”. Another unique feature of Kipling's jungle book is that each story is followed by a series of couplets which may be parodies or just sing along verses.
Followed by Mowgli's three tales, Kipling presents “White Seal” where the readers are taken to the frigid climes of the Bering sea where seals are hunted indiscriminately. He tells the story of Kottick a furry white seal who takes upon himself to lead his family to a safe haven with out hunters. In “Toomai of the elephants” Rudyard Kipling tells about a boy who wants to be an elephant handler and is informed about the myth of the Elephant dance. A magical night with the elephants gets Toomai his night to remember and the reader a tale never to forget. Then comes the “Servants of the Queen” where a British officer eavesdrop the conversation between the camp animals in the night gaining more insights about his own life and his friends.
Btu my favorite is “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, the story of a spunky mongoose who is adopted by a genteel Anglican family. He protects the family against the vicious cobra's Nag and Nagina. The effervescent tale about the snakes, their family, their children and Rikki's friends Darzee the bird all come together in a memorable way.
All these charming stories may enthrall children, but these are for adults too, because adults are the ones who need more humanism in their life. Where can you learn to be a better human but from our diverse animal life.

Jungle Lore - a book by Jim Corbett (published in 1953)

Jim Corbett was a famous man of the Jungle, who lived in the northern portion of India (the Kumaon and other Himalayan regions) in the first half of the 20th century, and was an expert in the Jungle. He could track animals like the best of them, and was much in demand, especially for killing those animals (tigers, leopards) who had started killing humans. This would happen if the animals were diseased, or badly injured enough that they could not catch their normal prey, or had realized that humans were easier prey, especially in the region that was hilly and very green. Jim Corbett would take up such assignments, tracking down these animals over the days required, and finally hunt them down. He had given up shooting for fun, and only killed when the need was for killing such man-eaters. In dedication to him, a famous tiger reserve called "Corbett Tiger Reserve" was named after him.



Nowadays, the message about the need to protect nature, to ensure that their is a correct balance between man and nature is maintained is very important, since the future of humans depends on maintaining this balance. However, many many decades before, Jim Corbett would write on the same subject, about the hills and the nature of the forests of Kumaon.
The book is about his life, his experiences, and what he learned as a result of his experiences. Corbett had a very strong respect for the animals of the jungle, and the overall beauty of the entire nature experience.

The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon (published in 1954)

Jim Corbett was a famous hunter and conservationist who lived in the region of Terai and Kumaon, in North India during the latter half of the 19th century, and through to the mid part of the 20th century. Being born in this region, he grew up with the forested and mountainous region and became very familiar with it. He loved the jungle, was very comfortable inside the forest, and could track down animals.
He became very famous as a hunter, but he was no there for the thrill of killing wild animals, instead killing those who became man-eaters. Some of the animals (typically tigers and leopards) that Jim Corbett killed were those who would terrorize villages, killing people as they moved around after dark. These animals had typically lost the ability to hunt their native prey, being either weak, or having suffered some wounds in battle, or having been shot and injured; in such a state, hunting humans was far easier than trying to kill their traditional prey. Villagers would call Jim Corbett to hunt down such animals, and he would track them down, sometimes alone (accompanied by his dog) and hunt them down.



These were the days before modern vehicles, so moving between places and through the forests would take a fair amount of time to do. This book is the last such book written by Corbett of his adventures, culminating in the last terrific tale of his quest to kill the Talla Des Man-Eater. The stories have vivid descriptions of the forest, as well as of the rural Indian societies of these remote villages and small towns.
Reading these books will almost give you the feel that you are along with him, and able to get inside the minds of the big killer cats, and you learn to appreciate these huge animals, as well as the reasons why they do need to be killed. You also get to read interesting tidbits such as the superstitions among the people inhabiting those areas.

Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett (published in 1944)

Jim Corbett was a famous hunter and conservationist born and brought up in India during the latter half of the 18th century, and lived up till the mid-1950's. He was also a colonel in the British Indian army, and also worked for the Railways. He is famous (immortalized to some extent) by the naming of one of the large Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttranchal (India), called Corbett National Park, the home of the Royal Bengal tiger (at current count, there are 164 tigers inside the Park).
Corbett was also much respected by the local population of the region, a mountainous and forested regions; since he was called upon by them to kill many of the man-eating tigers and leopards that roamed in the region. Typically, these were animals that were either old or had suffered injuries during fights or when they were shot, and were unable to kill their natural prey. As a result, they turned to hunting easier prey, such as humans and many of them killed tens or hundreds of humans. The terror cast by such cats was such that people would not move out of their homes during the night.



Corbett had become incredibly comfortable with the jungle, becoming a good tracker and lover of nature. This is when he vowed never to kill or hunt down animals for fun, instead only using his gun when required to kill man-eaters.
The book is an interesting collection of 10 such stories where Corbett tracked and shot down these man-eaters in the Kumaon and other regions. Many of these required much effort to track down these animals, including live baits to get them. As you read about these tracking efforts, you learn about how an animal turns to become a man-eater, and you also learn about the efforts involved in tracking down such a man-eater, especially since such a man-eater loses the natural shyness of humans and can easily attack the hunter. These are very interesting stories.