(2003) 2008 1st pbk edition. Pelican Creations Intl. Haldwani, Uttarakhandi. Paperback. Pp320. Colour & b/w photographs, b/w illustrations, maps. French-fold card covers. Bumped & chipped but new copy.
Notes: A very interesting and detailed biography of Jim Corbett with much of his correspondence reprinted, as well as something of the current tiger conservation effort in India and what it owes to Corbett. The author devotes a lot of space to recounting many of the good works and acts of kindness done by Corbett in his lifetime. The tone is rather that of a "Life of Saint Jim". And for good reason: the subtitle "Life & Legend of a Messiah" is meant literally not metaphorically. This book is a hagiography of "Jim, the white Sadhu" (sic), comes as close as the author dares to crediting him with second sight and only just stops short of stretching his good works into miracles. He does, however, write "Thus Jim rightly owes his achievements survival in the adveraries of the jungles to the supernatural powers that subconsciously influenced his decision-making and managed narrow escapes for him" (sic) and elsewhere plainly states that Corbett was a Sadhu and/or saint. A statue in a temple cannot be far behind. Fascinating and slightly bonkers. In common with many books published in India and shipped abroad, the quality of this book is shocking, and the stock quite bumped. Customers should be aware of this, and we cannot accept returns on the basis of the book's condition. (Your statutory rights are unaffected, obviously).
