Customer Reviews

Carpet Sahib: A Life of Jim Corbett (Oxford Lives)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Author Martin Booth has done a splendid job in his attempt to tarnish the image of Jim Corbett, slayer of man eaters, author, naturalist and philanthropist through the book titled "Carpet Sahib". The author used much of his imagination in the book, rather than trying to do some hard research. The book is filled with contradictions and accusations without base. Booth believes
that grapefruit grow on vines! The hardcover edition of this book came out in 1986 as a tie in with the broadcasting of "Man eaters of kumaon" a BBC docudrama which was also scripted poorly by Booth, painting him with a 'chi-chi accent' whatever that might be. Corbett was not a reward hunter according to other biographers, but according to the script Corbett was 'amply rewarded'. Again the imagination from a fiction writer took over
the entire book, mixing facts with fiction! The paper back edition is cheaply made without any photographs and an actor's cartoon on the cover, instead of a Corbett portrait! The first biography of Corbett by D.C.Kala (1979)is much better than this, Booth borrowed material from this book without bothering to acknowledge it.

The author has done an amazing job of making an exciting subject boring. He appears to have done his homework, digging into the family history back several generations. This, in fact, is the problem with the book; he's done too much research and can't bear to edit any of it out. The first half of the book passes without any tiger being stalked, and that is all Corbett is famous for. The only portions of the book with any drama are those hunting tales he re-tells from Corbett's own books.

He also spins in a tremendous amount of speculation about the motivations of Corbett and his family members and friends. He tries to support these speculations with his research, but it's largely unconvincing.

Don't waste your time on this book.

Good job in gathering some of the photographs published in the book, butthere are far too many contradictions in the text, a sign of writig in haste.The cover design for the original hard cover was good, but the Oxford reprint, the paperback edition, without any illustrations, looked pathetic!

All the mystery and charm of British India; the exitement of hunting Man eating tigers,Jim Corbett's enigmatic mixture of man of action and "sadhu " . probably the best loved whiteman who ever lived in India.

Booth, I believe has done a very good job in writing this biography. He has very articulately brought Jim Corbett's strenghts and weaknesses to the reader. Jim Corbett was a brilliant hunter, a practical man and an enterprising business man. This book is definitely a treat for people who have read Jim Corbett earlier. He was fiercely patriotic and loyal to the Crown but also very much in love with India. Its just amazing to how brave and agile this man was. A true legend indeed.

I got this book as a gift from my brother, with whom I have enjoyed reading Corbett stories as little boys. Without any doubt - Corbett; through Booth is still as refreshing as Corbett in his own words.

I think Booth has done a marvellous job with Carpet Sahib. Anyone who has ever travelled to northern India - and Kumaon in particular - will appreciate Booth's vivid and sympathetic portrayal of the subject, the people of the hills and terai, and the tigers and leopards which roamed them so freely. Sadly, that world is no more. Kumaon today is a very different place. Luckily, I managed to see a tiger when I visited Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh, and reading this book in my cabin while hyenas sniffed and scratched outside my window was a magical experience. Carpet Sahib is a fine book and one of the few available on this fascinating individual and the wilderness of northern India.