The Jungle Book

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

‘The Jungle Book’ is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling, published in 1894. The stories are mainly about Mowgli, a feral boy raised by a pack of wolves in the Indian jungle, and his adventures. The stories explore themes of law, freedom, loyalty, and identity, as well as the contrast between civilization and nature. ‘The Jungle Book‘ is considered a classic of children’s literature and has been adapted into many films, TV shows, and musicals.

Key Facts

• Title: ‘The Jungle Book’
• Published: 1894
• Literary Period: Victorian Literature
• Genre: Children’s Book
• Point of View: Third-Person
• Setting: Colonial India, North Pole
• Climax: Mowgli stampedes buffalo herd to trample Shere Khan

Rudyard Kipling and The Jungle Book

Influenced by the stories he picked up growing up in India, Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Jungle Book’, a collection of short stories, some related and others stand-alone. In a fashion reminiscent of Hindi fable texts, Kipling writes anthropomorphic animal tales that teach moral lessons. There are indications Kipling wrote these tales for his young daughter, Josephine. These tales were first published in magazines in 1893 and 1894 and were later collected in a book in 1894, accompanied by illustrations made by Rudyard Kipling’s father, John Lockwood Kipling.

Rudyard Kipling was born and raised in 1865 in Bombay, British India. This experience influenced most of his work, including ‘The Jungle Book’. He was a prolific writer, publishing several novels, short stories, poetry, and newspaper articles. His notable works include ‘Kim’, ‘Just So Stories’, and ‘The Second Jungle Book’. He received the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature for his contributions to world literature.

The story of ‘The Jungle Book’ features the adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, a panther, and a bear, and his hostility with a lame tiger, Shere Khan. It also contains stories of a white seal’s search for a home for a paradise for his kind, away from human predation; a little mongoose’s brave defense of its adoptive family; and a young elephant keeper’s lucky witness of the mysterious elephants’ dance. This book is an everlasting classic and has continued to be a pleasure to read over the ages.

Books Related to The Jungle Book

If you enjoyed ‘The Jungle Book,’ you might also like these books by Rudyard Kipling.

• ‘The Second Jungle Book’— This is a sequel of the ‘The Jungle Book’. It is a collection of stories featuring anthropomorphic animals, like its prequel, and most stories star Mowgli. It includes stories about how the tiger got its stripes, Mowgli’s revenge on the villagers who banished him, and Mowgli’s plan to rescue his wolf pack from a pack of dholes.
• ‘Just So Stories’— This also is a classic children’s book and a collection of humorous origin tales. In this imaginative work, Kipling weaves enchanting narratives explaining how certain animals acquired unique characteristics. It features the elephant who got its long trunk by trying to pull himself from the grip of a crocodile that had bitten its nose, or how the kangaroo got powerful hind legs by running away from a pursuing dingo dog.

Other similar books by other authors include:

• ‘The Graveyard Book’—This novel by Neil Gaiman is a spellbinding coming-of-age tale that unfolds in a graveyard. After an assassin kills his parents and leaves him an orphan, Nobody Owens finds refuge and a peculiar upbringing in a graveyard, raised by ghosts and supernatural guardians. Gaiman’s masterful storytelling blends fantasy, mystery, and heart-warming moments as Bod encounters ancient secrets and faces the dark forces threatening his life. ‘The Graveyard Book’ explores identity, family, and the journey from childhood to independence.
• ‘Tarzan of the Apes’—In this classic adventure novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lord and Lady Greystoke are shipwrecked on Africa’s wild coast. His father and mother die, and their infant son, Tarzan, is orphaned and alone. Adopted and raised by a tribe of great apes, Tarzan grows up learning the ways of the jungle. As he matures, Tarzan discovers his true identity and human heritage and must harmonize the savage world of the jungle with the civilized world. Filled with action, romance, and a captivating exploration of the clash between nature and society, ‘Tarzan of the Apes’ remains a classic adventure that has enthralled readers for generations.

The Lasting Impact of The Jungle Book