Posted on 05/30/2011 6:45:02 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator
My life is undergoing a bit of a disruption right now (hence my ceasing to post the weekly Torah readings). But to calm my nerves I have been re-reading the original Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling. This is the first time I have done so in a very long time, and I am amazed at how much I remember. Those stories really make an impression.
I have read all the Mowgli stories before (except for "In the Rukh," which I recently read online), but except for "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" I had not read any of the non-Mowgli stories in the Jungle Books before. I've actually just finished the last non-Mowgli story this evening. What are two Arctic stories ("The White Seal" and "Quinquern") doing in Jungle Books anyway?
The edition I have been reading is the Signet Classics edition. Unfortunately, it has the short ending of "The King's Ankus," which I think is inexcusable (not to worry; I still have my ancient Scholastic Books copy with the full thing). Since the short ending is the result of an oversight in the first edition, why would any later edition intentionally replicate this mistake?
The afterword to this edition makes the interesting observation that Mowgli is a far better and more appealing character than Tarzan, and I must say that I quite agree. Edgar Rice Burroughs seems to have been too influenced by contemporary evolutionary theories in weaving his tale.
I am a big fan of the "talking beast" genre of story anyway, whether folkore, Aesop's Fables, Uncle Remus, or Mrs. Brisby and the Rats of NIMH.
Anyone else out there enjoy Kipling's original Jungle Book stories? Are there any other "talking beast" type stories you can recommend?
the parts that are affected are the central-eastern sides in what comprises the states of Chhatisgarh etc
The routes along the west are quite safe. Even the central parts where the Maoists are, paler folks are pretty safe -- you just don't go into the heart of Chhatisgarh.
Thank you for bringing this book up. I read it as a teen and had not thought of it, but you are right about all the different manifestations of animals in it. I particularly recall the parts about the songs of the ants being broadcast in their heads and their relation to our popular music with their repetitive tunes and inane lyrics. Useful as mass control. I think I must look for it and read it again.
What wondeful book selections! Could you freep-message me that bibliography? I’m looking for books for my 10 year-old daughter who is a very advanced reader and who has burned rapidly through our home library. We love books written from the early 20th century to around the early ‘60’s.
Mrs. AV
“Done”/”Not done,” I think, was the binary language. What a horror! The book was too good. It ruined every other modern Arthurian tale.
The Princess and the Goblins, The Princess and Curdie, and one other, along with East of the Sun, West of the Moon by George MacDonald. The Little Lame Prince.
For the best treat of all, if you can find a set published before 1930, The Books of Knowledge—every other page a painting or an illustration, most by famous artists.
As a homeschooler, I’ve been lusting after the “Books of Knowledge” for awhile. I keep looking, never know when you might find a set at some old library sale or garage sale (one can only hope).
We’ve read “The Princess and the Goblin”, will read “The Princess and Curdie”, we love George MacDonald. Will look for The Little Lame Prince. Thank you!
Mrs. AV
This isn’t a bad price for a 1950 set.
Much better buy—but missing two volumes.
Awfully good chance it was one of the Princess tales. But—he may have written another one, Heidi-like. The only reason it occurs to me now is that it had the same end-papers as the Princess books which were taken from The Back of the North Wind. Maszli? I’m going to Google right now.
I remember reading The Princess and Curdie and At the Back of the North Wind for a college class. I really enjoyed MacDonald’s writing.
Thanks very much for those links!
Ever read “Freckles” by Gene Stratton Porter? Lovely book.
Mrs. AV
I have read both Freckles and its sequel, A Girl of the Limberlost. Wonderful books, both of them.
I was half-thinking of buying a set myself, but it’s probably better to wait until I’ve got some grandchildren. My parents gave away thousands of books when they moved, and the 1911 Books of Knowledge were among them. I had my chance to take them but stupidly declined. Callow youth.
Never read, never heard of, Freckles. I’ll definitely look it up. Thank you.
Thank you for starting this nice thread, it gave us so many great ideas about wonderful books to read. Hopefully it did the same for you.
Mrs. AV
For animal themed -- have you ever read Paddington Bear? I'm re-reading it now in Polish (yes, that's the level of my Polish! abysmal :( and it is quite interesting to read -- the original books
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