The Kenneth Anderson Omnibus: Vol 2

The Call of the Man-Eater 

One of Kenneth Anderson's best-known stories, The Call of the Man-Eater chronicles an unusual partnership between a man-eating tiger and a jackal that calls out to the beast when it spots their next victim. This story features Anderson’s evocative and immensely insightful profiles of the various creatures that inhabit the jungles of India—the wild dog, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, tiger, panther and elephant.  

The Black Panther of Sivanipalli 

Set in the remote jungle hills of Yellagiri, this iconic tale follows Anderson's tense pursuit a man-eating panther with strange and elusive habits. As he stalks the jet-black predator into a dark cave, an unexpected ambush by a swarm of bees adds to the danger. This real-life adventure captures the thrills, setbacks, and hard-earned successes of Anderson’s jungle encounters—complete with snakes, bison, tigers, and more.

Kenneth Anderson (1910–1974) was a British writer, hunter, and nature enthusiast, born in Bolarum, India, into a Scottish family that had settled in India for six generations. His father, Captain Douglas Stuart Anderson, was a military administrator with a passion for sport hunting, which deeply influenced Kenneth's love for the outdoors.

Anderson spent most of his life in Bengaluru (south India) working in aeronautics while dedicating his free time to exploring the jungles. Known for hunting dangerous man-eaters—including tigers, leopards, bears, and rogue elephants—his official records list 8 leopards and 7 tigers killed between 1939 and 1966, though unofficial counts are higher.

More than a hunter, Anderson was a skilled storyteller whose deep respect for wildlife led him to write eight books and around sixty short stories, including Nine Man-Eaters & One Rogue (1968), Tales from the Indian Jungle (1971), The Black Panther of Sivanipalli (1964) and The Call of the Man-Eater (1961). His vivid, real-life accounts of adventure and jungle lore are considered classics of shikar literature and continue to inspire nature lovers and conservationists.