~ 1894 ~
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is a collection of fables that use anthropomorphic animals to teach moral lessons. The main character is Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle who later returns to the human village. The stories touch on themes such as abandonment, fostering, law, and freedom. Kipling drew inspiration from ancient Indian fables and the customs of native hunters in India. The book remains popular today and has been adapted into many films and media. Despite controversies surrounding Kipling’s supposed imperialism, the power of his storytelling has been acknowledged even by critics who are wary of his views.