The Jim Corbett Omnibus

by Edward Corbett

Jim Corbett's riveting accounts of shikar in the Himalayan foothills have kept generations of readers enthralled. The Jim Corbett Omnibus includes three enduring tales of Corbett's encounters with man-eaters.

Man-eaters of Kumaon contains fascinating stories of tracking and shooting of man-eaters in the Indian Himalayas during the early years of the last century. The stories in The Temple Tiger display Corbett's acute awareness of sights, sounds, and life in the Indian forests, as well as his love for the human beings living in the hunting terrain. Finally, perhaps the most exciting of all of Corbett's jungle tales, The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag is a gripping narrative of a notorious leopard which spread terror in the hills of the colonial United Provinces.

Dramatic yet reflective, Corbett's writings are coloured by his deep concern and sympathy for the natural world as well as the local people and their traditions and customs. This vividly illustrated collection will appeal equally to Corbett lovers and to those concerned with the environment and wildlife.

Table Of Contents
Man-eaters of Kumaon
Author's Note
The Champawat Man-eaters
Robin
The Chowgarh Tigers
The Bachelor of Powalgarh
The Mohan Man-eater
The Fish of My Dream
The Kanda Man-eater
The Pipal Pani Tiger
The Thak Man-eater
Just Tigers
The Temple Tiger and More Man-eaters of Kumaon
The Temple Tiger
The Muktesar Man-eater
The Panar Man-eater
The Chuka Man-eater
The Talla Des Man-eater
Epilogue
The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag
The Pilgrim Road
The Man-eater
Terror
Arrival
Investigation
The First Kill
Locating the Leopard
The Second Kill
Preparations
Magic
A Near Escape
The Gin-trap
The Hunters Hunted
Retreat
Fishing Interlude
Death of a Goat
Cyanide Poisoning
Touch and Go
A Lesson in Caution
A Wild Boar Hunt
Vigil on a Pine-tree
My Night of Terror
Leopard Fights Leopard
A Shot in the Dark
Epilogue

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Adventure, Wildlife, Travel, Biography, History

604 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Souvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever written, this book is not legendary because of Corbett's immaculate hunting descriptions, but it becomes much greater than that because Corbett paints such a beautiful (almost edging into the surreal) picture of the Kumaoni way of life. He loves the hill people, adores their simple life; he describes it with such heart warming care! The scenery is flawlessly described, the man eaters sharply spotted, the gun effortlessly raised and the bullet unfailingly fired. Gem of a book!!

[Nayaz Riyazulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

ನೈನಿತಾಲ್ ಪ್ರಾಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇದೆ. ಆ ಪ್ರಾಂತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಾಡಿನ ಸಂಕಟಗಳಿಂದ ಹನುಮಾನ್ ದೇವರು ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ಪೇಟ್ ಸಾಬ್ (ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್) ಈಗಲೂ ಕಾಪಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದು.85 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರವೂ ಈ ಒಂದು ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಜನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆಯೆಂದರೆ ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಮಹನೀಯನೇ ಆಗಿರಬೇಕು.

ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕ ಹುಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಚಿರತೆಗಳ ಶಿಕಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿಖ್ಯಾತನಾದವನು, ಈತನ ಶಿಕಾರಿ ಅನುಭವದ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳು ಬಿಸಿದೋಸೆಯಂತೆ ಬಿಕರಿಗೊಂಡಿವೆ. ಈತನ ಶಿಕಾರಿ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ದಿಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಕಾರಣ- ಈತನ ಬರಹ ಶೈಲಿ, ಈತ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ಪರಿಸರವನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಡುವ ಪರಿ, ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಣ್ಣ ಗಾಳಿಯ ಸದ್ದು ಸಹ ಹುಲಿಯೆಂದೇ ಭಾವಿಸುವಷ್ಟು ಅಮೋಘ ಬರವಣಿಗೆ. ಕಾಡಿನ ರಹಸ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಅರಿತಿದ್ದ ಜಿಮ್ ತನ್ನ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿ ಬಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ. ನರಭಕ್ಷಕಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇರುವ ತಪ್ಪು ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಅವುಗಳ ಅಸಹಾಯಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅವು ಏಕೆ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕಗಳಾದವು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಕಥೆಯ ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸವಿವರವಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ನನ್ನು ಟೀಕಿಸುವ ವರ್ಗುವೂ ಇದೆ, ಹುಲಿಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಇಳಿಮುಖವಾಗಲು ಇವನು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಕಾರಣಕರ್ತನೆಂಬದು ಕೆಲವರ ವಾದ. ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ನನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವಾಗಿ ಓದಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಇದು ಹಾಸ್ಯಸ್ಪದ ಎನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ ಮುಂಚೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಹುಂಬ ಶಿಕಾರಿದಾರನಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಬರುವ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಶಿಕಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇವಲ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಮಿಸಲಿಟ್ಟನು, ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ - ಇತನ "Temple Tiger" ಕಥೆ, ಈ ಹುಲಿ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕವಾಗದೇ, ಹಳ್ಳಿಗರ ಹೈನು ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬೇಟೆಯಾಡುತ್ತ ತಲೆ ನೋವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ, ಕಾರ್ಬೇಟ್ ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲುವ ಅವಕಾಶವಿದ್ದರೂ ಕೊಲ್ಲದೇ ಬಿಡುವುದು ಈತನ ವನ್ಯಸಂಪತ್ತಿನ ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ಒಂದು ನಿದರ್ಶನ. ಈತನ ಭಾರತದ ಕೊನೆಯ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಂತು ಶಿಕಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡದೇ ಕೇವಲ ಛಾಯಾಚಿತ್ರ ತೆಗೆಯುವದರಲ್ಲೇ ಕಳೆದ.

ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬೇಟೆಯ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿವೆ, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಟೆ ತಂದುಕೊಡುವ ರೋಚಕತೆಗಿಂತ ಅಂದಿನ ಭಾರತದ ಕಾಡಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಣದ ವರ್ಣನೆಯೇ ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದದ್ದು. ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ವರ್ತನೆಯನ್ನು ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸುವ ಜಿಮ್ ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯನ್ನೇ ಮೂಡಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಕರಡಿಗಳ ಸಿಟ್ಟು, ಲಂಗೂರರ ಚೇಷ್ಟೆ, ಸಾರಂಗಗಳ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯ ಕೂಗು, ರಣಹದ್ದುಗಳ ಏಕಾಗ್ರತೆ, ಮುಳ್ಳುಹಂದಿಗಳ ಆಕ್ರಮಣ (ಹುಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಚಿರತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ಘಾಸಿಗೊಳಿಸುವಷ್ಟು ಆಕ್ರಮಣ) ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದು ರಸದೌತಣವನ್ನೇ ಉಣಪಡಿಸಿದೆ.

[অন্বয় আকিব · Rating 5 out of 5]

ভুতের বই পড়ে ভয় পেয়েছি এমন ঘটনা স্মরণে না আসলেও এই বই পড়ে বেশ কয়েকবার শিহরিত হয়েছি।

শুধু শিকারি হিসেবে নয়, লেখক হিসেবেও বিভিন্ন অভিজ্ঞতার বয়ান দিতে জিম করবেট সিদ্ধহস্ত। রুদ্রপ্রয়াগের চিতা পড়তে চেয়ে মাছ ধরার যে অভিজ্ঞতা তিনি বর্ণনা করেছিলেন, সেই অভিজ্ঞতা নেয়ার স্বপ্ন আমার পূরণ করতেই হবে। বাঘ বাঘিনী শিকার করার ইচ্ছে বা সাহস কোনোটাই নেই। তবে পড়তে যেয়ে বারবার মনে হয়েছে, এই ভদ্রলোকের স্নায়ু কী ইস্পাতের তৈরী?

একেকটা বাঘ বাঘিনী বা চিতা শিকারের গল্প এখনো হাড়ে কাঁপন ধরিয়ে দেয়ার ক্ষমতা রাখে। কিছু ঘটনা বেশ মনও খারাপ করিয়ে দেয়। ছোট বড় বেশ কিছু গল্প মিলিয়ে বেশ বড়সড় একটা বই। যদি শিকার কাহিনী পছন্দ করেন, এর চেয়ে সেরা বই হাতে গোণা দুয়েকটা থাকলেও থাকতে পারে। বোনাস হিসেবে পাবেন সেই সময়ের ভারতবর্ষের বনের বুনো সৌন্দর্যের বর্ণনা, বিভিন্ন গ্রামের মানুষের জীবন যাপন সম্পর্কে ধারণা সহ অনেক কিছু।

জিম করবেট শুধু শিকারিই ছিলেন না ছিলেন আপাদমস্তক একজন ভদ্রলোক। ভারতবর্ষের প্র‍তি তার ভালোবাসার কথাও তিনি বেশ ভালো ভাবেই ফুটিয়ে তুলতে পেরেছেন। এই বই জীবনে আরো বেশ কয়েকবার আমি পড়বো নিঃসন্দেহে।

অখন্ডটা গুডরিডসে পেলাম না। অখন্ডটাই পড়েছি। জিম করবেটের অনেক গল্পই পড়া থাকলেও সম্পূর্ণটা পড়তে খুবই আনন্দ পেয়েছি।

[Somdutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read of jungle stories and hunting. The stories contain a nice description of the behaviour of different animals in a jungle, why a leopard and a tiger becomes a man-eater, the humble hill-folk, and of-course the beauty of the jungle. A hunter who is assigned the arduous task of killing a man-eater who has caused mayhem in the villages and has instilled fear in humans such that they don't venture out in the dark, should have extreme level of perseverance. The Rudraprayag leopard, is the man-eater that Mr Jim Corbett tried to kill for a long time, insomuch that he was about to give up. At last he was fortunate to kill the leopard who had been killing humans for eight years. The story ends with a very poignant paragraph:
"A typical son of Garhwal, of that simple and hardy hill-folk; and of that greater India, whose sons only those few who live among them are privileged to know. It is these big-hearted sons of the soil, no matter what their caste or creed, who will one day weld the contending factions into a composite whole, and make of India a great nation".

[Arun Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timeless compilation of the awe inspiring accounts of Jim Corbett's life in India, adventures and encounters with fearsome man-eaters.

This book is special because I picked it up a few years ago during my trip to Corbett, in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. I read some of the stories in a resort not far away from the tiger reserve, which made the reading experience surreal. In more than a few instances, I could feel a shiver up the spine as I read his encounters because I was right there in Corbett, amidst the hooting of owls and strange bird sounds.

[Ankur Dhankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best damn freaking book I’ve ever read..
While my review lingo is contemporary in nature
The book is written in the sweet-spot-of-British-English kinda formal in nature
Somewhere between Jane Austin and JKR, w/o the stiff upper lip of course
the writer is I’ll say, basically an Indian dude, minus the superstition, fright , and voodoo of the good old days
Overall I’m saying he’s not at all Indian, he’s logical & brave and has the heart of the conquerors of the said countries
It’s highly descriptive & I love all the real 1st hand accounts of the places so nearby my home

To which I say
Awesomesauce

[Anindya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are fascinated by forest adventures..Welcome aboard..This book will move you to the depths of north Indian jungles and farm lands...Deadly encounters with man-eaters will jerk your emotions.....U will respect nature to its core...

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those were quite a few man-eaters! Though the tales are real incidents, most of them read like fiction. Mr. Corbett seems to be just as good a story-teller as he is a Shikari. This is like chicken soup - only, for the adventurous soul.

[Riti Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

people should read this f they are actually intersted to know about tigers.. n these maneater's story in unbeliveable..

[Abhishek Dafria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Corbett made his name as a hunter of man-eaters. In that day and age, the Government in India would ask for his services to rid an area of a man-eater, be it a leopard or a tiger, so as to protect the human lives there. It was indeed a different day and age. In today's times, tigers are protected and safeguarded like valuable currency by the Government considering the drastic fall in their numbers that had been seen due to poaching. What was termed as 'Project Tiger' proved a big blessing for the depleting tigers in the wild, and slowly over the last four decades or so, the tiger numbers have encouragingly grown. They are not out of the endangered list though, and more sustained effort is required to save these magnificent beasts. But Jim Corbett's era, in a British-ruled India, was different and so this book has to be read keeping that context in mind, especially by those who love and respect wildlife. Jim Corbett was good at what he did, and he considered it his duty to save those who lived fearful lives in the surroundings of a man-eater. But never did he consider the wild animals he would track as his enemies. He was captivated by their beauty and understood that it was hardly the beast's folly that it got a taste of human blood. In many a place in this book, Jim Corbett speaks about how killing a tiger or a leopard has left the forest devoid of a magnificent animal, and how he would prefer to shoot with a camera than with a gun. In today's world, maybe Jim Corbett might have been the greatest wildlife photographer there ever lived, and not the famous hunter he is known as now.

The Jim Corbett Omnibus is a collection of three books written with a lot of heart by a man who loved every thing about being in a forest. It takes you to those Indian jungles where Corbett used to roam and track animals. In this book he recollects many of his adventures, quite a few of which would make you look over your shoulder, and describes the noises and the views of the jungle in painstaking detail. In fact the third book in this collection contains only one tale, about the man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag, whom Corbett tracked for some ten weeks in the jungle. That tale reads like a thriller, one that would give you goosebumps and make you jump up at the sight of your own shadow. For those who love wildlife, those who love to go to forest safaris, Jim Corbett's recollection of his stories will definitely interest you, and once again allow you to be lost in the dense trees and the singing birds from an era that is disappearing away too quickly...

[Roshan Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jim Corbett Omnibus is a collection of three of his books. The collection gives us a first person account of his hunts which were carried out in the jungles of the foothills of Himalaya in the early 20th century. Corbett's writing is marvellous. When he narrates, he takes the reader with him, never missing on the small details and descriptions which make the jungle come alive. The thrill of hunting a man-eater gives the reader goosebumps while he flips pages and is kept on the edge. Corbett's descriptions of the foothills has made me fall in love with the jungle and I was constantly googling the animals and plants he writes about. The fear which grips the people in the vicinity of a man-eater is unparalleled and the damage done to these small hill communities is devastating. Corbett, beyond everything else was an environmentalist and an acute nature lover. Never does he let the reader cultivate hate for these animals who in his own words, killed --"Not against the laws of nature, but against the laws of man".
The book was one of the most delightful reads this year and Corbett is going to live with me for a very very long time.

[Aatrey Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this first when I was 12 and have probably read it 20 times since then. It never gets boring.

Beyond the captivating stories you get a nice glimpse into village life in the mountains pre-independence.

[Swati Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omnibus of my favorite author's work of my favorite genre! So, obviously, LOVED IT!!

Wildlife and hunting were probably the first genres that I started with as a kid (maybe 13-14 years old) because they were the ones available at home. I will highly recommend it to anyone who is even a little interested in these genres.

Of the three books in this omnibus, I found "The Man-eater of Rudraprayag" most thrilling. However, I am unable to add any more words to my review.

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my 13-year-old son in an attempt to regain his faith in my book-choosing abilities after I tried, but failed, to convince him to read Anne of Green Gables with me. After 600 pages, I know more about man-eating felines than I ever wanted to know. But the boy and I had a wonderful mother-son reading experience, and his faith in me is restored. Corbett's love for nature and his admiration for the people of India were compelling. 3.5 stars from me and 4.5 stars from from the boy.

[Ranvir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something different, something very close to heart.

[Roland Jakobsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books of all time. It describes Jim Corbett's many trials when hunting man-eating tigers and leopards in Northern India in the early 1900s. His relationship with nature is so loving and so pure, and it is very fascinating to read about how a long life lived in the jungles can basically make someone become one with it, being able to interpret almost every little sign and detail. This intimate knowledge helps him immensely in his quest to rid the mountain villages of the predators who have for some reason become man-eaters.

The settings are beautifully described, and the colonial backdrop gives the stories an old-school feel. Corbett is not hunting for glory but for the benefit of the people who live in the region he loves and he much prefers shooting tigers with a camera than a rifle, as he puts its.

The stories are suspenseful and interesting, and told in a very detailed manner which makes you believe you are sitting on a tree branch observing what happens. When I want to read something exciting about places I've never been to in a faraway land in a different time, I sometimes pick up this. I love it.

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of three of Corbett's books: Man-Eaters of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon, and The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. The first two books each contain 5+ shorter stories of Corbett's more noteworthy hunts in northern India. Corbett's writing is highly descriptive, of natural surroundings in the Himalaya foothills, of hunt details and tracking, and of human and animal character. Sure beats "Walden" for a pro-conservation read.

[Charu Thapliyal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not have as big a problem with the stories in this book as i did with the writing style. It seemed pretentious and i failed to connect with the author. The stories in themselves aren't half bad.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewing an omnibus is a tricky venture - this volume contains 5 books and one essay, covering a number of different topics. Thanks to the inclusion of that final essay, we can't even say that there is a unifying Anglo-Indian element to the book. If we fudge a little by excluding that essay, however, we can say that this is the story of the wilds of India during the last days of the Raj, and a testament to the courage & ability of her people.

Man-Eaters of Kumaon was my introduction to Corbett, and I've read it 3 or 4 times over the last few years. It's a collection of true stories (as are all Corbett's writings) about his work hunting man-eating tigers. It's filled with extremely vivid depictions of jungles and tigers, and a sense of deep love for India and the Indian people. If you're only going to read one Corbett book, make it this one.

The next two books in the omnibus are The Temple Tiger & The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. They're both more of the same - if you really liked Man-Eaters, then you'll want to read these, but if you didn't, then I can't say they offer anything new. I will mention that there was one page in The Man-Eating Leopard that offered a laugh out loud moment immediately followed by one of the most bloodcurdlingly terrifying things I've ever read, which was itself immediately followed by comic relief. It's the best kind of roller coaster, and perhaps worth reading for that one page alone.

My India is rather surprising change of pace - it has little to no hunting in it whatsoever. Dedicated to "my friends, the poor of India", it's a collection of incidents & biographical sketches of various Indians that Corbett knew, notable not because of their high rank or wealth, but because of their strength of character or their fortitude under impossibly trying circumstances.

Jungle Lore is another change - though not quite a how-to guide, it's an extended meditation on living in the jungle, and learning how to read it & listen to it. This is perhaps the weakest entry in the collection, but still worth reading if you've enjoyed the rest of it.

There are, of course, two issues that may give people pause when contemplating reading Corbett. Hunting tigers, an endangered species, is definitely less acceptable now than it was in his day, and some people might not want to read about it. If that presents a problem for you, I can more or less put your worries to rest.

There's a common misapprehension that Corbett exclusively hunted man-eaters, but that isn't entirely true. It was only in his final decades as a hunter that Corbett refused to kill a big cat unless it was actively hunting people for food. Before that, his primary focus was on man-eaters, but he would also sometimes kill a tiger or leopard if it was preying on the herds of poor farmers - he loved big cats, but he loved poor Indians more.

Before that stage of his life, it does seem that he hunted for sport, and helped others to do the same - in fact, an incident in Jungle Lore makes it clear that even during the part of his life where he himself only hunted man-eaters or nuisances, he would sometimes help others hunt tigers for sport. Nevertheless, I'd say that 90% of his stories are indeed about tigers that absolutely had to be killed - you can grit your teeth and appreciate the rest for his prose (or even skip them, if necessary).

The other big hurdle is race - as a white Angl0-Indian surrounded by & employing poor Indians, you'd expect a whole lot of racism. Surprisingly, there's almost none present. There's a little paternalism, perhaps, but it's all in the least toxic form possible - building walls to protect villages from tigers, convincing the government to issue villages with first aid kits, and so on. When individual people are singled out in a story, it's all done with immense respect. The only line in the entire collection that even approaches racism is when he says that Indians from a certain province are all awesome people who make for great friends.

In short, The Jim Corbett Omnibus is a fine addition to any library. I highly recommend it.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

INTRODUCTION

Jim Corbett, a very familiar name. He was a British hunter, tracker-turned-conservationist, naturalist, and author who hunted a number of man-eating tigers and leopards in India. He held the rank of colonel in the British Indian Army and was frequently called upon by the Government of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, now the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to kill man-eating tigers and leopards that were preying on people in the nearby villages of the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. He authored Man-Eaters of Kumaon, Jungle Lore, and other books recounting his hunts and experiences, which enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success. He became an avid photographer and spoke out for the need to protect India's wildlife from extermination.
"Jim Corbett Omnibus", a book that describes three of the author's most memorable books. This book is aimed at book lovers of every age. It narrates wildlife, hunting and even here you can find out how the author is fond of nature.

BODY

Let me first tell you about the story of "Man-Eaters Of Kumaon". A book included in this Omnibus.
You must know what a great hunter our author was. In this book, he also narrated a beautiful scenario of small villages on the feet of Himalayas in 1920. He also told readers briefly that human beings are not the animal's first choice for food. They only seek human flesh when they get injured and become incapable to hunt their natural prey. "This permanent injury to her teeth --- the result of a gunshot wound ---- had prevented her from killing her natural prey, and had been the cause of her becoming a man-eater." A line from the story 'The Champawat Man-Eater". This is the very 1st story of this book. This document consists of more such wonderful hunting stories. Like "Robin", "The Chowgarh Tigers" and much more.

Now, let me move to the next content of Omnibus. A book named "The Temple Tiger and More Man-Eaters of Kumaon".
This is the latest book written by our author, and in this document, he describes a number of human tigers and leopards who have been hunted near the Indo-Nepal border. This consists of stories like "The Temple Tiger" "The Panar Man-eater" and more.

Now, here we come to the last content. This book is named "In The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag". This is the reason I fell in love with our author's hunting stories.
This is a story where the beast was able to outsmart our beloved hunter on several occasions. So much so that this leopard held terror among the locals that Corbett had to request people and government for their assistance in taking the beast down. This story also has a very interesting detail about an efficient reporting system back then and if the hunters are able to catch the beast based on someone’s report the reporter gets a handsome bounty. Here the animal spread terror among the locals and pilgrims for 8 years. This story is capable of creating an extraordinary thrill.

CONCLUSION

Ok, now I am resting my fingers aside. I really hope there will be a larger number of readers who will definitely fall in love with this Omnibus. Some most interesting hunting stories are treasured in this Omnibus. I will definitely recommend it to every reader. Stories are packed with hunting skills, natural beauties of northern India and also a high level of literacy.


Ratings: 5 Star(⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

[Meghna Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

The Jim Corbett Omnibus takes you deep into the heart of the Indian Himalayas, where Jim Corbett's thrilling encounters with man-eating tigers and leopards come to life. This collection includes three of his most gripping works: Man-eaters of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger, and The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. But these stories are more than just exciting tales of hunting—they’re a window into Corbett’s deep respect for the natural world and the local communities he worked to protect. As he tracks down these deadly predators, Corbett’s sharp observations of the jungle, its animals, and the simple, resilient lives of the hill people paint a vivid picture of a world filled with both beauty and danger.

Review:

This collection isn’t just about dramatic hunts—it’s about the heart and soul of life in the Himalayas. Corbett’s writing goes beyond the adrenaline of facing down man-eaters; it’s a love letter to the people and the land he cared for so deeply. He brings you into a world where the jungle’s beauty coexists with deadly threats, and the humble, hardworking villagers are as much a part of the story as the tigers and leopards. Corbett’s respect for the local people shines through in every description, and his stories capture the quiet heroism and perseverance needed to survive in such a wild, untamed place. If you’re looking for adventure mixed with humanity and a deep connection to nature, The Jim Corbett Omnibus will leave a lasting impression.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the sleevenotes: "Jim Corbett's adventurous and insightful stories of man-eaters have made him a legend in India. Not only have his books established themselves as classics but almost constitute a separate literary category by themselves." This omnibus contains three of his books. A second omnibus contains a further three books.

Jim Corbett lived and worked in Northern India and had a deep sympathy and concern for the people of rural India, for their traditions and their folklore. Far from being a hunter for the sake of gathering trophies, Corbett came to the aid of villagers whose lives were turned upside down when tigers and leopards turned to humans as their prey.

To begin to read one of his stories is to be drawn into an amazing journey into the Jungles of Northern India. His style of writing is poignant and evocative. I first read his books whilst in India myself, and they became my constant companions.

[Corbettthebaagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

it`s a great Book you must read it
About Jim Corbett:-
It was founded by Edward James Jim Corbett, a famed hunter, and naturalist, located in Nainital District, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand 244715, In northern India. Jim Corbett national park is a dense wildlife sanctuary. Jim Corbett national park is so rich in flora and fauna that it is well-known for its Bengal tigers, leopards, and wild elephants. Jim Corbett national park carries extra amenities we will get to explore in detail.


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[Rishiraj Ruhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most adventurous books I've read so far. Jim Corbett was a Shikari who hunted man-eaters of Kumaon. The tales are so beautifully told that you feel are always with him when he's on the hunt, sometimes he himself. His style of portraying complex jungle and it's lore is simplistic yet most powerful. His encounters with Tigers and Leopards makes for most chilling scenes you can imagine, always gave me goosebumps whenever he sensed that danger is near. He had an eye for nature - numerous times he has mentioned the overwhelming beauty of the nature he was surrounded with in Himalayan foothills.

Though, I'm strictly against killing wildlife. But this book is from a different time, when India had no shortage of big cats.

[Naman Singh Bali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant in beginning to ever completing this novel. Since, it preyed on my initial and still continued ideology of not slaughtering wild animals for food or illegal transport.

But as soon as the chapters progressed, the other coin was visible more to me and I was filled with different emotions throughout the read.
The book is presented vividly and put you in Mr. Corbett's shoes.

I am ever thankful for purchasing this masterpiece (my 6 year old, & my 2nd novel ever), I'll re-read ocassionly :)

[Priyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tops the list of must read books, especially if you are a lover of wilderness. Jim Corbett, employs his extraordinary storytelling skills to paint a vivid picture of the landscape of Kumaon region and his experiences with the many many eaters there.

Sir Corbett is totally deserving of an applause extraordinary skills he posses with regards to the jungle folks but his attempts at glorifying himself and his shikar skills is quite evident at many places and may be an off set.

[Katie Philo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning tribute to a bygone era, Jim Corbett's tales of man-eating leopards and tigers in the Himalayan foothills are both compelling and terrifying in equal measure. The way he describes nature's beauty and the animals he pursues is simply majestic. This man is a natural storyteller, which is lucky because his stories are second to none.

[Govind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should read this book definitely. A man should have iron balls and that much skill (in those days) to hunt down a tigress who killed more than 400 people,a leopard who killed more than 120 people ..! and many more of such dangerous man-eaters..!
The narrative is such an immersive experience in a way that the reader will feel Kumaon and its tryst with man-eaters unfolding before own eyes..!

[Keith Wijesuriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful glimpse into a life lived well a long time ago. Lived well in the sense of experience, rather than from the point of view of life's luxuries.

Jim has the ability to take you along with him. Breath bated. Wonderfully alive to the sounds, smells and sights of the jungles of his beloved India.

[Nishat Fiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, this book changed the way I see nature. Someone will be wrong if they think that the book is all about stories of hunting tigers. Rather it's a journey. A description about how this British man saw the nature and the people around him. The humble way of narration has often made me wonder if the real life is stranger than fiction.