"Man-Eaters of Kumaon" is a 1946 book by Edward James (Jim) Corbett

Published by Oxford University Press, New York, London, Toronto, Bombay, 1946

Jim Corbett that recounts his experiences hunting man-eating tigers and leopards in the Kumaon region of India.

Jim Corbett was a renowned hunter and naturalist known for his expertise in tracking and hunting big cats. He wrote several books about his adventures in the Indian wilderness, with "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" being the most famous.

Content: The book contains ten stories detailing Corbett's encounters with man-eating Bengal tigers and Indian leopards from the early 1900s to the 1930s. One of the notable stories includes the Champawat Tiger, which was responsible for over 400 human deaths. The narratives not only focus on the hunts but also provide insights into the local flora, fauna, and village life during that era

The book explores themes of nature, survival, and the complex relationship between humans and wildlife. Corbett's writing reflects his respect for the animals he hunted and his understanding of the reasons behind their man-eating behavior



Two Jacket Variations




Review - The is likely no man more associated with man-eating cats than Jim Corbett of India. And no one ever wrote about it better! He avoids sensationalism and hyperbole and tells it like he's explaining it to you around the campfire. He took out the 2 highest scoring maneaters in history, The Champawat Tigress with a final score of 436, she had killed 200 in Nepal and the army chased her across the river into India where she tallied another 236 (officially that is). Jim hunted her and took only 3 rounds for his big rifle, yes 3 rounds against a tiger that's killed over 400 people!!

The other high scorer he removed was the Panar Leopard with an official tally of 400 human victims. In this one Jim was up in a spindly little tree, he had his men tie thick thorns to the base of the tree, and good that they did, as while he was sitting there the leopard tried to climb the tree to get him and pulled on the thorns so much the men later had to cut the rope with knives as the knots were too tight!

Then there's I think it's the Thank maneater that Corbett tracked in the jungle alone and on foot, his favorite way to hunt maneaters, on foot, in the jungle, ALONE! He manages to track it and find it asleep on its back, then has to mentally debate if shooting the tiger is "sporting", I mean I get the old British pukka sahib rules and all Jim, but c'mon.

Then the Chowgar tigers a female and two cubs mostly grown all maneaters. Not going to ruin it but he's been out all day going down a dry nullah (gulch), he finds some nightjar eggs and scoops them up then goes to walk around a large high spire of rock, and as he turns the corner there's the tiger 8 feet away, and Corbett say she smiles at me like a dog whose master just got home.

The British Version of this book has an additional small chapter called "Just Tigers" about filming tigers

I highly, I mean highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, sport, tracking, wood craft, tracking, hunting, close calls and dang good writing! In my top 5 books all sportsmen should read!!!

Great read from the methods he used to the early cartridge guns His stories are on u-tube audio books also Kenneth Anderson has good maneater stories too

Read it years ago as a child, ought to locate a copy and refresh my memory.

There's a book "Hero of Kumaon" by Jeff Davis I think, good read give backstories on the hunts place, wait till you see the machan, I would hunt opossum from it!

Jim Corbett for the win! My dad got me this book and his others, many years ago. I can see a copy of this book from where I sit. His writing style is timeless.

I believe that it was this book that I first encountered the word Sahib.

For an encore read The Man Eating Leopard of Rudraprayang. Don't read it before bed.....

I plan to eventually review all of Corbett's books I found "Jungle Lore" especially good!

Excellent review Mike. I'll be tracking down a copy to add to my collection.

Just scored a 1st edition hard cover (American) in good condition for $17.50. After looking around I noticed that most comparable editions were close to double that or more, some of them much more.

Most excellent read!

I have a first edition of that book and it’s a excellent read

All of his book are worth the time to find them and read them

Read some Corbett about 40 or so years ago. Other than having big . I thought him kinda stupid with his tactics. Sat over a kill to have it kill a mile away. Happened time and time again. More than 1000 died while he was a day behind. At least that's how I remember it.

Love reading Corbett, Anderson and Peter Hathaway Capstick!