The Jungle Bookscan be regarded as classic stories told by an adult to childre n. But they also constitute a complex literary work of art in which the whole of Kipling's philosophy of life is expressed in miniature. They are best known for the `Mowgli' stories; the tale of a baby abandoned and brought up by wolves, ed ucated in the ways and secrets of the jungle by Kaa the python, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the black panther.The stories, a mixture of fantasy, myth, and ma gic, are underpinned by Kipling's abiding preoccupation with the theme of self-d iscovery, and the nature of the `Law'.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxf ord World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from arou nd the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship , providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, inc luding expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.