News — Book review

Prosenjit Dasgupta reviews Undiscovered Corbett by Ian Douglas

“Undiscovered Corbett” by Ian Douglas is a notable contribution to popular knowledge about Jim Corbett, that renowned hunter of man-eating tigers in Kumaon in early 20th century and the widely-read author of stories of Indian wildlife. No doubt there have been earlier books on Corbett, but Douglas has broken new ground in providing many more interesting details about Corbett’s life and times with the Bengal and North-Western Railways at Mokameh Ghat, as in-charge of a Labour Corps in World War I and later in Waziristan. Of particular interest is the reproduction of letters written by Corbett to Maggie, his elder sister and to others, as well as press reports, which serve to corroborate the hair-raising experiences of Corbett in pursuing man-eaters such as the Chowgarh maneater and the Thank man-eater. Douglas’ narration of his simulation of a one-handed handling of the .275 Rigby rifle as Corbett had done in shooting the Chowgarh tigress is most interesting. The book provides useful information about Corbett’s role in training troops for jungle warfare during World War II as also about Corbett’s assistance in organizing hunts for Lord Linlithgow (Viceroy of India, 1937 to 1943) and his family. The photographs and personal notes by Lady Doreen Hope (daughter of the Viceroy) in the book provide important pointers to Corbett’s personality and jungle skills. The book has the benefit of many new, hitherto unpublished photographs that Douglas was able to obtain from the Corbett’s Archives available with the Oxford University Press, who were the publishers of Corbett’s books, as well as from members of the Linlithgow family and others. Well-annotated and attractively produced, “Undiscovered Corbett” should be a welcome read to fans of Corbett’s hunting tales.

A review from author and Cambridge Professor of English, Dr. Charles Moseley

One Day a Thousand Songs by John Miller 

'This book is a delight. I shall return to it time and time again, for it is one of those books that grows new subtleties the more you yourself learn to pay attention to that to which your author - your mentor - is pointing. Anyone who loves observing, sympathising (however anthropomorphically!) with the daily drama - sometimes tragedy, sometimes comedy, and both are set to the wild music of birdsong - of the garden, the countryside, and its birds will be grateful for so meticulous and sensitive a chronicler and narrator.

John Miller's writing more than once made me think of Gilbert White in its observation of the minute, easily missed, detail. His natural, easy style engages you from the first page, and there is much wisdom as well as love in these pages. I wished it longer. I would be proud to have written such a book, and it will have an honoured place on my shelves.' 

'The reader will always learn something new, fascinating or downright unnecessary by reading a David Ashforth book. ‘Curiosities’ is no different'. 

The Feather Bender's Advanced Flytying Techniques (Barry Ord Clarke, 2025) reviewed by Matt O'Neil on his YouTube channel @SavageFlies

https://youtu.be/Qtpti1IFUgg