The Second Jim Corbett Omnibus

by Jim Corbett

The Second Jim Corbett Omnibus is a compilation of three works written by the famous British hunter and conservationist, Jim Corbett. In My India, the first volume in the set, Corbett recounts his experiences in the Kumaon Hills. He discusses the villages he visited, the people he got acquainted with, and the lifestyles and customs he encountered. The second book, Jungle Lore, presents an autobiographical account of his initial days and experiences in the Himalayan region, and his frank, farsighted views on various aspects of wildlife conservation. In Tree Tops, the final title in the set, Corbett provides rich, fascinating glimpses of the stark, savage beauty of the Kenyan landscape and wildlife. An account of the 1952 royal visit of Princess Elizabeth is also included in this volume. The collection was released in 2001 by Oxford University Press. It received positive reviews for its remarkable presentation of Jim Corbett in a new light.

About the Author
Jim Corbett was a British hunter-turned-conservationist, naturalist, author, and photographer, best-known for hunting several man-eaters in India. He has written several books such as The Jim Corbett Omnibus, Not While I Have Ammo, and Man-Eaters Of Kumaon. Corbett was born on July 25, 1875, in Nainital, India. He served as a Colonel in the British Indian Army for several years. Corbett played a vital role in protecting wildlife, particularly the Bengal tiger of India. He passed away on April 19, 1955, in Nyeri, Kenya. His life has been featured in various media, including a Hollywood movie, a TV movie, and a docudrama.

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Table of Contents
My India

Introduction
The Queen of the Village
Kunwar Singh
Mothi
Pre-Red-Tape Days
The Law of the Jungles
The Brothers
Sultana: India's Robin Hood Loyalty
Budhu
Lalajee
Chamari
Life at mokameh Ghat
Jungle Lore

Introduction

Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Tree Tops

Introduction
Tree Tops

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

426 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Edward James "Jim" Corbett was a British hunter, turned conservationist, author and naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eaters in India.

Corbett held the rank of colonel in the British Indian Army and was frequently called upon by the government of the United Provinces, now the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to kill man-eating tigers and leopards that were harassing people in the nearby villages of the Garhwal and Kumaon region. His hunting successes earned him a long-held respect and fame amongst the people residing in the villages of Kumaon. Some even claim that he was considered to be a sadhu (saint) by the locals.

Corbett was an avid photographer and after his retirement, authored the Man-Eaters of Kumaon, Jungle Lore, and other books recounting his hunts and experiences, which enjoyed much critical acclaim and commercial success. Later on in life, Corbett spoke out for the need to protect India's wildlife from extermination and played a key role in creating a national reserve for the endangered Bengal tiger by using his influence to persuade the provincial government to establish it. The national park was renamed Jim Corbett National Park in his honour in 1957 after his death in 1955.

Reviews

[Roshan Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this, my journey with Corbett is over. Of course I will never forget this journey, and will surely re-visit it numerous times, but the fact that there won't be any new adventures saddens me deeply. Corbett's writings are like a warm hug. I have not come across a better environmentalist and nature lover than him. Corbett's love and respect for nature and it's habitants runs deep. In 'My India' you get to know the India in which he lived and the India he so dearly loved. 'Jungle Lore' spans twelve chapters in which he talks at length about the jungles in which he grew up. The last book, 'Tree Tops' is a short account of Princess Elizabeth's visit to Nyeri, Africa where Corbett accompanied her when she visited there. Although this book is a very nice collection, I don't think much of it will stay with me other than a few tales from 'My India'. 'The man-eating tiger of Rudraprayag' which was included in the first Omnibus remains by far my favourite Jim Corbett book.

[Shiven Dash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an eye opener to me on some of the traits of the great hunter. This omnibus comprises three books, "My India", "Tree Tops" and "Jungle lore". Though the adventurous episodes were described with so much of clarity and conciseness, a typical trait of Corbett's writing, yet I was a little surprised to read about his killing spree, not just of man eating tigers or leopards. In Jungle lore, he described how he would kill peafowls, sambhar, cheetal, jungle cocks, and what not whenever he felt of doing so. One of the episodes where he described that when he saw a very large leopard and decided to have a shot at it, he set the forest on fire so that the leopard could come out to the glade and he would have a free shot at it, was very disturbing. Was he emphatic to the conditions of the animals? I doubt but I am thankful that I read Jungle lore at the last, after reading all his other books. Had it been my first or second novella, I would have never picked up another book from his repo. But having said so, I do not blame him for he, as all other English officials, was hooked to hunting, a reason for young officers to come from the cool climate of the UK to the prickly heat of the plains of India where there were games to be won as trophies.

[Sudipto Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of Jim Corbett Omnibus is a collection of three books - My India, Jungle Lore and Tree Tops. The first is a collection of short stories, mostly about the people from the Himalayan foothills of Kumaon near Nainital where Corbett was born and Mokama Ghat where he used to work. These are stories about people Corbett personally knew and his love for India that he knew and the Indians that he loved come out very poignantly here. Corbett trusted the simple, poor Indians for their honesty and did all that he could for them. It is for nothing that they gave him the status of a sage in the foothills of India. I think every Indian should read this book at least once. And before you start please do not ignore the dedication and introduction to the book by Corbett himself. The language is beautifully soft and creates a dream like setting to the stories. The language is simple enough for a child to understand yet very matured. It is one of those styles that you think is easily imitable but if you tried you would realise it is not. Nature plays a backdrop in almost every story, particularly those that are based in Kaladhungi/Nainital. This review will be completed after a few days.

[Anshul · Rating 5 out of 5]

'For him, this was not nature study, it was his world, and these were the things that meant life and death of its inhabitants.
[...] As kindly and generous as he was fearless, he gave freely of himself, and asked nothing in return. But I think that in the olden days he would have been one of the small band Europeans whose memory has been worshipped by Indians as that of man who were in some measure also gods.'
— HAILEY (London, September 1955)

Second Omnibus consists of his less popular though equally charming work- 'My India', 'Jungle Lore' and 'Tree Tops'. All three that speak to his readers directly and in such intimate way that is equally joyful and sensitive.

Edward James Corbett, known to most of us through the Jim Corbett National Park so rightfully named after him. The man who devoted his life in service and the welfare of all surrounding him and the man who loved and loved the jungle with all its inhabitants so immensely.


[My India] -5/5
A wider view of his life in India which he truly loved. His life and dedication to his work and the people as seen as a larger family he was the head of during twenty years stint at Mokameh Ghat.
[Jungle Lore] -4.5/5
In a span of twelve chapters here Corbett gives his user insight on many nature of the jungle and its inhabitants, lessons that we city dwellers may find redundant but nonetheless are fun to absorb. The way of the jungle.
[Tree Tops] -4/5
His last, written only days before his death in 1955, Tree Tops is a recollection of one fine evening Jim Corbett spent at Tree Tops, Nyeri in Kenya when then Princess Elizabeth with her husband came visiting and the same day when she became the Queen.

[Samir Dhond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book and it fascinated me to know that a person like Jim Corbett would be so amazingly daring and adventurous. He loved wild animals and that is evident in his writing. A good book to read.

[Ketan Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Corbett the legend, the naturalist, the hunter, the author, the good samaritan. A journey into old times, nature, peoples and scenic and rich natural beauty of Kumaon Hills with Corbett Sa'ab. Simply amazing.

[Meghna Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

The Second Jim Corbett Omnibus brings together three of Jim Corbett’s most personal works, offering readers a deeper glimpse into his life beyond his well-known hunting stories. In My India, Corbett warmly recalls his time in the Kumaon Hills, describing the close-knit communities, the beautiful simplicity of village life, and the people who left lasting impressions on him. Jungle Lore gives us a window into his early days exploring the Indian wilderness and his evolving understanding of nature, conservation, and the balance of life in the jungle. Finally, Tree Tops takes us to Kenya, where Corbett recounts Princess Elizabeth's visit, shortly before she became Queen, alongside his vivid descriptions of the wild African landscape. This collection reveals not just the hunter but a man whose love for the land and its people ran deep.

Review:

Reading The Second Jim Corbett Omnibus feels like sitting down with someone who’s lived a full life and has stories to share, both thrilling and reflective. In My India, Corbett writes with such warmth and tenderness about the Kumaon hills and its people that you can almost feel the bond he had with them. His admiration for their simplicity and resilience shines through on every page. It’s not just about the thrill of hunting here—he’s painting a picture of a place and its people that he loved deeply.

Then comes Jungle Lore, which is where you see the more complex side of Corbett. Yes, he was a hunter, and some of the stories can be jarring, especially when he talks about killing wildlife that wasn’t threatening humans. It’s a part of who he was, a reflection of the times he lived in, but what stands out is how his perspective on nature changed over time. You can sense his growing awareness that these animals, even the ones he once hunted, were part of something much bigger—a delicate balance that needed protecting. It’s a mix of adventure and self-realization.

Tree Tops is shorter and perhaps less memorable, but it’s still fascinating. Corbett gives us a peek into a moment in history—when Princess Elizabeth visited Kenya just before she became Queen—and his descriptions of the African wilderness are as vivid as ever. It’s a gentle end to the omnibus, a quieter reflection compared to his more intense hunting stories.

What stays with you after finishing this collection is the sense that Corbett was more than just a hunter. He was a man who loved the land, who cared for the people he met, and whose views on the natural world evolved as he did. This omnibus is not just about his adventures—it’s about his journey as a person, one who left a lasting legacy in conservation. It’s a bittersweet farewell to Corbett’s world, but one that leaves you grateful for the stories he’s shared.

[Saheb Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a stormy night in New Delhi when I first read a book by Jim Corbett. The story was of "The Man-Eater Leopard of Rudraprayag". I had left the door open as there was an amazing wind blowing across the living room, while I sat up on a chair with my leg up on the sofa.

I have never felt real fear like that by reading any book or by watching any other horror movie, like the one I felt while reading the story about the intelligent so-called"Shaitaan".

My romance with Corbett started that day and I can say for sure that this pure unadulterated love will remain for a lifetime! What a man! What an Idol!
The omnibus series is a must for anyone library!

[Naman Singh Bali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read, & contemplating over my emotions. The ending chapters give the real gist of Mr. Corbett's demeanor and outlook towards life's opportunities; no matter how bountiful & well deserved they ought to be.

This book is a vivid encapsulation of his being. It is as close as you can expect him to have ever penned down, on his version of events, surrounding his life- his memoir.

It's a breeze; melancholy & yearning for more might make you feel excavated & in an impasse. But you, my friend, can always pick it up and read omnibus 1 again, to re-read a finely narrated turn of events in the life of an undaunted, unerring, & courageous (godly to Kumaon region) epitome of a man!

[Isaac C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alas, no more adventures with Jim Corbett! This second omnibus is a good compliment to the first. This book provides more detail into Corbetts earlier years that developed his work ethic and love for people. The second book, Jungle Lore, is a deeper dive into the thought, senses, and instincts of living in the jungle. The final book, Treetops, while short is an exciting change of scenery taking place in Kenya and showing how Corbetts understanding of nature superceded just the Indian forests.

I would recommend both Jim Corbett Omnibus' to anyone looking to be immersed into the jungle, gain fresh perspective on the culture of the day, and learn how to interpret the senses of a forest!

[Hayley Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Jim Corbett since I was a teenager. He transports you to Indian his style of writing holds such a warmth to it. Yet the detail he puts into his stories and his love for the people of Indian is a constant. He respected the animals and was ethical as a hunter. It makes you think how vulnerable we are and how removed we are now from nature. Somehow he manages to be informative and emotional all at once. I love his books I’ve read them all and they always keep me transfixed.

[Aniruddha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book - the author brings the romance of shikaar stories alive with the 'human perspective' !

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

He loved India and it's people.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of wonderful adventures.

[Graham Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating compilation of local stories from Nain Tal in North East India. It clearly reveals the values of the people, their lives and their encounters with the wild-life. It is a big relief to not read mysteries and detective type stories. This a a real worthwhile read that is enjoyable and provides various stories that are true and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the last section "Treetops" that described Princess Elizabeth climbing the ladder then unknowingly descending it one day later as the future Queen of England.

[Meena]

24 may 2024 DNF: This book is nicely written for its time I guess but it is very uncomfortable. The actions and behavior of people at the time, things that were accepted as normal, now feel positively gruesome . That's on me, I don't know what else I was expecting when I picked a book written by a famous tiger hunter, duh. Hunting for pleasure is mentioned often and it feels wrong, but there's another aspect that feels very wrong. The general attitude of servitude that Indians held at the time towards the English, normal at the time, sure, but feels awful to read now.

[Subhashis Hazarika · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to not only see India but also to taste, smell and touch then this is the book for you.
This book shows Corbett's true passion for not only India but its people also. He devoured India more than any other Indian. Simple stories about simple people and animals. It is Simplicity at its very best.

[Dhruv · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not quite as thrilling as the first omnibus in terms of adventure stories, it is nonetheless a moving portrait of the Corbett and the times in which he lived. Jungle Lore especially is a masterclass in observation and My India cannot fail to move the hardest individual to emotion. Recommended for all Corbett admirers.

[Dr. Abhijit]

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