Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 5 i Explore History

Victoria and Albert have endured as one of the greatest royal love stories in history. It was at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight that Victoria, her beloved Albert and their family enjoyed their most peaceful moments, while Victoria stayed there for many years in the aftermath of Albert’s untimely death. Discover more about the couple’s remarkable renovation project on page ››. In this issue, we also head to one of the world’s most famous sites, Easter Island (page ››). As the most remote inhabited island in the world, it has plenty to reveal. The walls of Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle harbour a lot of tragedy for a building that could have been plucked from a fairy tale. On page ››, find out about the castle’s mysterious patron Ludwig II.…

Helix Bluetooth lamp A must-have on camping trips, this lamp can be switched on and off using a dedicated app, through your Bluetooth connection. With a rechargeable battery, it can also give your phone vital juice, and can flash red to warn others of danger. Price: £94.99/ $120 Bitplay Snap! Pro This professional phone camera case is the perfect way to improve your iPhone photos on the go. Fitting a standard iPhone 6 or 6s model, the rugged cover allows you to add a range of professional lenses, from macro to fish-eye effects. Case: £50/$69 Lenses: £20/$25 The Thames Through Time by Stephen Croad This handsome hardback book, full of photographs of the Thames over the last 150 years, captures the life of the river, often at the…

CHATEAUX VAUX›LE› VICOMTE On Versailles we were very fortunate to film in amazing French castles. My favourite was Chateaux Vaux-Le-Vicomte, which is just like a mini Versailles. Arriving over the moat using the bridges is extraordinarily picturesque and the perspective effects of the garden are a triumph. THE LOUVRE The last museum I visited was the Louvre. What else can you really say about a building that on the outside is implicitly brave and modern, yet transports you to bygone eras once your enter? I actually find it a very peaceful place to visit, if you can manage to avoid the mass of tourists. LOS ANGELES LA never ceases to surprise me; the vastness of the desert coupled with the Hollywood lifestyle is a bizarre mix. From the breezy hills…

Nestled on the most south-eastern point of the Polynesian Triangle lies a small, volcanic Chilean island that has made an incredible impact on the field of archaeology and the study of ancient cultures. It doesn’t have pyramids that reach to the sky or elaborate temple ruins that stretch for miles across its surface, and yet Rapa Nui – more commonly known as Easter Island – remains one of the world’s most popular destinations for tourists and archaeologists alike. It’s all thanks to a series of 887 statues that stand watch upon its coastline like an army of eternal guardians. These are the moai. The sculpted, extant remnants of a once populous people who share the same name as the island that has served as their home for thousands of years:…

For years, one prevailing theory has surrounded the fate of the Rapa Nui – the people that thrived on Easter Island and created its incredible, totemic tributes of stone – a theory of blood, mass murder, civil strife and devastation. A theory that the Rapa Nui depleted its resources too low, created a social divide that tore its society apart and eventually led to the very civilisation’s downfall. Much of that theory comes down to another ancient remnant of Easter Island’s past – the mata’a. The mata’a are stone implements that have long thought to have been deadly weapons used in the civil war that purportedly ripped the Rapa Nui apart. However, closer analysis of these weapons, published in the journal Antiquity, has cast considerable doubt on this long-accepted theory.…

Neuschwanstein was Ludwig II’s prized project, but the looming towers and Alpine setting only served to underwhelm the king. Instead, he began to plan a brand new fantasy retreat to sate his desire for a dramatic, imposing castle overlooking his land. The ruins of Falkenstein castle, merely 20 kilometres from Füssen, provided the perfect location for Ludwig’s vision of a spectacular castle that towered above the land. In 1883, Ludwig purchased the ruin, intent on demolishing it and replacing it with his new fairy tale fortress. He commissioned Neuschwanstein’s concept artist and stage designer, Christian Jank, to come up with its architecture. Jank returned with a menacing, high-Gothic palace made of towers, turrets and steep roofs. Ludwig deemed his designs too modest, however, and recommissioned its design to Max Schultze,…

Listen to: Traditional Dutch lute music A lutenist playing the works of Golden Age composers such as Van den Hove, a contemporary of Rembrandt and Vermeer; the soothing sounds evoke Vermeer’s Woman With A Lute. Read: Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach takes Jan van Loon’s painting of a wealthy burgher’s wife as the starting point in a love drama involving speculation in rare new tulips. Watch: Girl With A Pearl Earring Girl With A Pearl Earring is a film adapted from the novel about the life of a servant girl in Vermeer’s chaotic household, drawn into intimacy with the artist.…

✵ Bhutan When the duke and duchess of Cambridge visited Bhutan in April 2016, the highlight of the tour was their visit to the Taktsang Lhakhang – the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ temple that is the tiny kingdom’s most iconic landmark. Prince Charles had attempted the journey in 1998 but he only made it halfway to the temple. Clinging to the edge of a sheer cliff above the Paro Valley, at about 3,000 metres, it is an important historic as well as religious site. It has become a ‘must see’ for visitors, who are drawn by its combination of sublime scenery and spiritual mystique. The site has been recognised as a holy place, or a ‘ney’, since the 8th century, when Guru Rimpoche – credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan – meditated…

Dome of the Rock Built in the 7th century as a shrine to commemorate the spot where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven – it is said to be built over a sacred stone. It is the oldest Islamic monument standing today. Al-Aqsa Mosque Meaning ‘the farthest mosque’, this building is also known as Bayt al-Muqaddas. Much of the building today was rebuilt following an earthquake in the 11th century. Covering a vast area of 144,000 square metres, it can hold an impressive 5,000 worshippers inside at one time. Western Wall Considered by the Jewish faith to be the closest one can get to the holiest area of previous temples, it is a site of pilgrimage for Jews around the world, who come here to pray at sections divided for men…

Orkney Rising from the flat landscape north east of Stromness on the Orkney mainland, near the tiny village of Stenness, these standing stones are visible for miles. Four megaliths remain today, the largest of which is 5.7 metres high – yet for all their visual prominence, their original purpose is wreathed in mystery. They are the remnants of a much larger ring, made up of 12 stones, that would have been surrounded by a ditch – archaeological work carried out here in 1972 uncovered the remains of domestic animals and pottery. Archaeologists were able to date the henge’s construction back to c.3000-2500 BCE. This part of Orkney is noted for its Neolithic sites – the burial chamber of Maes Howe is contemporaneous and less than two kilometres away. Just as…

“One never loses the thrill of breaking past the surface and penetrating another world” HONOR FROST Honor Frost’s first foray into underwater exploration came in rather bizarre circumstances, during a party in a friend’s snow-covered garden in Wimbledon. She was persuaded to climb into a well wearing a World War II diving suit; a hand pump supplied air through a hose. Even in the confines of the well, she was amazed by what she saw: “Air bubbles, like quicksilver, adhered to the undercut surfaces.” Frost, born in Cyprus in 1917, was hooked by the feeling of freedom she had underwater and continued diving with a club in Cannes, learning to use new scuba equipment that did not require an external air supply. There, she met Frederic Dumas, a…

Kim, an orphan of impoverished Irish parents, is a street child in Lahore when he meets up with a Tibetan lama who funds Kim’s education. Later, Kim is recruited as a spy in the Great Game, in which the Russian and British empires competed for influence in Afghanistan, Persia, Tibet and other central Asian regions. Though Kipling bent the facts to serve his fiction, the Great Game was a reality. The British in India feared a Russian advance. Both sides sent out explorers, geographers, diplomats, officers and adventurers to spy on their opponents and on local rulers. Kim’s chronology is unclear, but it seems to be set in the mid-1890s, when it seemed likely that the two empires would clash along the Pamirs – the mountainous north-east corner of today’s…

Scandal in the gardens What royal drama lurks within Kew’s neat flowerbeds? Mont-Saint-Michel The iconic French island’s part in the Norman conquest Spooky Castles These castles hold terrible tales within, of ghosts, ghouls and stony graves Byron’s Italy Follow the dangerous Romantic poet on a journey to Venice, Ravenna and Rome PLUS: Treasures of Stockholm’s history museum, Life in revolutionary Saint Petersburg, Hiroshima’s memorial sites, Peter Young: Heritage Hero, Corfu’s palaces and much more…

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England The Fitzwilliam Museum (www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk ), was bequea thed to the University of Cambridge by Richard, VII Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion in 1816 . As part of the bequest, he gave 144 pictures, including some by Titian and Palma Vecchio. The building, designed by George Basevi and CR Cockerell, opened in 18 48, and this elaborate foyer still welcomes visit ors today. Shrines at Uch Sharif, Punjab, Pakistan Uch Sharif means ‘holy high place’ and is sometimes credited with being the place where the cultur e of worshipping at shrines began. The city of Uch, in which this compound of tombs can be found, was formed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century and contains some of Pakistan’s most historic tombs. Best preserved is the Tomb…

1 Antony Beevor This historical author (speaking on 20 October) is known for his unflinching works on the horrors of military history. His latest book, Ardennes 1944 – Hitler’s Last Gamble (which he will be discussing), was a Sunday Times Bestseller and his past publications – including Berlin: The Downfall 1945 and Stalingrad – took the history book market by storm. He has even been credited with revolutionising the genre. 2 Paddy Ashdown Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown (speaking on 20 October) is the author of several historical books, as well as diaries and political publications. At this year’s festival, he will be discussing his new book, Game Of Spies, which recounts the story of a spy triangle in Bordeaux during the occupation of France. If espionage is your…

Shoe in Cambridge walls A shoe dating back three centuries has been uncovered in the walls of a university common room. Routine maintenance was being undertaken where the shoe, thought to belong to master of the college 300 years ago, is thought to have been placed in the wall to deter any evil spirits. Etruscan inscription found A significant piece of text has been found on a stone slab in the Mugelo Valley region of Italy. The site, Pogio Colla, was an Etruscan sanctuary. Perhaps most significant was the mention of the goddess Uni, suggesting that the site may have been dedicated to her. Rabbit farm at Teotihuacán Archaeologists from the University of California, San Diego, uncovered an ‘apartment complex’ at the ancient Mexican site of Teotihuacán. Several rabbit bones…

Queen Victoria is famous for many things: giving her name to an era, being the UK’s second longest reigning monarch and wearing black widow’s weeds for the last 39 years of her life. But a visit to Osborne House, her home by the sea, offers a very different insight into the private lives and personalities of Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, both as parents and as people. After their marriage on 10 February 1840, and the births of their first three children, the royal couple wanted a holiday home they could truly call their own. It needed to be private and away from the court, but still within easy reach of London. In late 1843, Victoria consulted Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel about the issue and he suggested the…

Princess Beatrice and her husband lived in the Durbar Wing, but may not have been their first choice of home. A particularly fraught feud between Beatrice and her mother lasted until December 1884, when the family were spending their Christmas at Osborne – something they did regularly. As the youngest child of Victoria and Albert, Beatrice had, since Albert’s death, provided comfort to Victoria, but the attachment continued into her adulthood. When Beatrice met Prince Henry on a trip to Germany earlier in 1884, they hit it off. But Victoria was not keen to let Beatrice go. She disapproved of Beatrice wanting to marry at all, and refused to speak to her for seven months, only breaking the silence in letters. At Christmas, Henry visited the family at Osborne house…

Mere days after being declared insane, the lifeless bodies of Ludwig II and his psychiatrist were found floating in the water on the shores of Lake Starnberg. American prosecutor and crime historian Ann Marie Ackermann (annmarieackermann.com) explains to Explore History why Ludwig’s demise divides experts to this day. What’s so mysterious about Ludwig’s death? How was his body found? Because no one witnessed an unexpected double death, Ludwig’s demise remains shrouded in mystery. Bavaria had just deposed Ludwig II for insanity and confined him in a castle on Lake Starnberg. He and his psychiatrist took a walk along the lake. They never returned. Hours later, a search party found their bodies floating in shallow water. Although gendarmes were patrolling the park, none saw or heard anything. What are the theories?…

Wandering along the circling canals of inner Amsterdam, shaded by trees and overlooked by elegant slim buildings, the 17th century’s golden years still surround you. At that time, trade, architecture, arts, sciences and philosophy blossomed in a city freed from Spanish rule in 1648, with the Peace of Westphalia treaties that ended the Eighty Years’ War. Even before this, the city had begun a remarkable expansion. Over the 15 years leading up to 1600, the population doubled to 60,000, and by 1660, it reached 220,000, making it Europe’s third largest city. The increase was partly due to liberal immigration policies and religious tolerance. In 1688, a French writer remarked that, “Amsterdam is the most welcoming place in Europe.” Nearly three quarters of the city’s residents came from elsewhere; Sephardic Jews…

Rembrandt The son of a Leiden miller and apprenticed at 13, Rembrandt painted, dealt in art and taught in Amsterdam. After 1642, his prosperity and popularity waned until he became bankrupt. In adversity, he painted more freely using broad strokes, as is shown in Woman Bathing In A Stream and Young Girl At The Window. Vermeer A silk worker’s son, Vermeer was little known outside Delft. Self-taught, he had no pupils, no drawings and only 34 attributable paintings, most of which were set in two rooms of his house such as Lady Seated At A Virginal. Vermeer painted slowly and made use of expensive pigments like lapis lazuli. He died suddenly and in debt in 1675. Van Goyen Born in 1596, Jan van Goyen was an art dealer, auctioneer, tulip…

“George Bernard Shaw, visiting in 1910, described it as, ‘…the most fantastic rock in the world’” ✵ Ireland The name ‘skellig’ derives from the Gaelic for ‘steep rock’ and it was not its beauty but its bleak brutality that attracted early Christian monks to this craggy island. There was a contemporary belief that union with God could best be gained by withdrawing from civilisation and retreating to harsh environments – solitude offered the promise of salvation. Skellig Michael – also known as Great Skellig – and its smaller neighbour, Little Skellig, were certainly remote. The islands are situated in the Atlantic, some 11.6 kilometres off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, and have a terrain that is harsh and inhospitable – perfect for those seeking an ascetic lifestyle. Skellig Michael…

✵ Bolivia The name means ‘Inca gallows’ in Spanish, as that was how the imperial invaders interpreted the appearance of these trilithic stones overlooking Lake Titicaca. However, the local name Pachat’aqa or Inti Watana, meaning place where the sun is held, gives a clue to the site’s real purpose: an astronomical observatory. The pre-Incan Chiripa people, for who the Sun, Moon and stars held great significance, established Horca del Inca in the 14th century. They utilised existing rock formations to create their observatory, bridging two naturally occurring upright rocks with a cross-slab (like a lintel) – to create a trilithic structure – which looked like a gallows to European eyes. Accounts suggest there were originally seven, but they were destroyed by the Spanish. The scientific function of the rock structure…

MEET THE CURATOR Angelita Teo is the director of the National Museum of Singapore. Between 2014 and 2015, Angelita helmed the museum’s complete revamp of its permanent galleries, which reopened in September 2015. The makeover presents an updated historical narrative of Singapore through contextual displays, multimedia interactive exhibits, contemporary art and personal stories. Singapore Stone LOCATION: Singapore History Gallery, Singapura (1299-1818) The Singapore Stone is one of the few known fragments of a large sandstone boulder that was blown up by the British in 1843 to build military quarters. The original Singapore Stone stood at the mouth of the Singapore River and Malay legend has it that a strong man known as Badang hurled the boulder from a nearby hill. Angelita chose the Singapore Stone as it is one of…

There are plenty of ways for you to get involved with the commemorative events, 950 years since the battle took place. Here are just a few: Re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings Battle Abbey, East Sussex Immerse yourself in the events of 950 years ago, as over 1,066 ‘soldiers’ recreate the battle that changed history. 15-16 October, 10am-5pm, £15.60 adult (£5.50 members), £9.00 child (£3.00 members). Booking recommended. T: 0370 333 1183 or online at www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/battle-15-oct The 1066 march York to Battle Starting on 25 September, re-enactment participants will follow the route taken by Harold’s army as they marched from York to Hastings to confront William. The march will be undertaken on horse and on foot, just as it was in 1066. To sign up and find out more see…

1 Underwater pioneer Frost was one of the first to ensure maritime work was carefully done. 2 Promoting research A founder of the Council for Nautical Archaeology, she helped the subject to be an academic discipline. 3 World wonder Frost led an expedition to the Pharos of Alexandria in 1968, 500 years after it disappeared underwater. 4 Anchor expert As the foremost expert in typology of stone anchors, Frost identified the age of underwater sites. 5 Honor Frost Foundation Frost’s will asked that her art collection be sold to fund maritime archaeology.…

Portelet Tower The island on which this tower stands is known locally as Janvrin’s tomb, in memory of a Jersey seaman who lost his life to the plague in 1721. He was initially laid to rest in the location where the tower was later built, but Janvrin has since been re-interred elsewhere on Jersey. EXPLORER’S ESSENTIALS ✵Always open. Entrance is free. Parking can be found at the top of the cliff, with steps leading down to the beach. Victoria Tower Standing high above the ocean, this is one of the Martello towers built much later and it boasts stunning views across the island’s picturesque coast. Butterfly and bird life is rich around the tower and visitors can relax in one of Jersey’s most peaceful spots while catching a glimpse of…

Fort, Dubrovnik Phil White “Dubrovnik is full of historic fortifications, but this one is particularly picturesque. The sea is so blue too.” Port Arthur Keith Lewis “This 19th-century penal colony in Tasmania made for a fascinating day out. The boat trip and guided tour at the site were great.” Stourhead Gardens Catherine Smith “I love visiting Stourhead’s 18th-century landscaped gardens at any time of year. The lake, and the follies that surround it, make for such a stunning place to walk and enjoy the plants and trees.” St Peter’s Basilica Jenny Parker “The ceiling of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is breathtaking.” Send your photos of incredible places to explorehistory@imagine-publishing.co.uk Tweet @ExploreHistory_ or Head to our Facebook page…

Warwick Words History Festival 3-9 October The Warwick Words Festival has moved towards specialising in historical fiction and non-fiction this year. The event, set in the historic buildings of Warwick, includes talks on ancestry, Charlotte Brontë and Richard III. Lewis and Clark Indiana Bicentennial Festival Celebration 30 September – 2 October This event, commemorating the expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1803, features re-enactors, live music and the launching of a reproduction keel boat, like the one used by the expedition. October Plenty, London, 23 October The Lions Part Company holds this annual celebration of the autumn harvest. It begins at the Globe Theatre on London’s Bankside, with a festive performance, and moves to Borough market, where it coincides with their Apple Day celebrations.…

Nothing more clearly illustrates Prince Albert’s parenting style than the intriguing and delightful Swiss Cottage. Purpose-built as a playhouse, it was specifically designed to enable the royal children to learn ‘normal’ life skills such as cooking, housekeeping, gardening and labouring. The foundation stone of the two-storey wooden Alpine-style chalet was laid in 1853, with the help of the older boys, Bertie and Alfred; the building was completed the following year. Hidden in the woods, a 20 minute walk from the main house, the Swiss Cottage was almost entirely the children’s domain. Here, they could play at being adults to their hearts’ content. In the kitchen, the princesses learned to bake cakes and scones with equipment built at three-quarter scale; the girls often served tea to their parents and other guests.…

Surrounded by luscious green forests, idyllic lakes and the snowy mountainous peaks of the Bavarian alps, you’ll find Neuschwanstein Castle. Once the fantasy retreat of a king deemed too insane to rule, it is now one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Built by Ludwig II of Bavaria, the castle was more than just a show of royal wealth: it was to serve as a sanctuary from courtly life, providing the king with welcome respite. This haven from his capital was a labour of love for Ludwig, who embraced the legends and lore of the Medieval period in its design and decoration. Yet despite the determination and devotion that Ludwig poured into Neuschwanstein, the castle brought nothing but misfortune to its creator. Ludwig’s pet project turned on him, with its…

The end of World War II in 1945 was supposed to be the end of Neuschwanstein Castle. Filled to the brim with looted art and Nazi plunder, the castle represented much more than just a hideout for stolen goods – it was the beating heart of the Reichsleiter Rosenberg Taskforce, known in German as the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg. The ERR, as it was known, was responsible for tracking down and confiscating valuable books, artwork and cultural items from those of Jewish heritage. The ultimate aim was to create Hitler’s dream of a Führermuseum in Linz, Austria, housing Nazi art obtained through confiscation, stealing and acquisition. To counteract the ERR, the Allies set up the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program. Those working under this banner were known as the Monuments…

Bounded by Prinsengracht, Westerkirk and Brouwersgracht and crossed by Rozengracht (a canal now filled in), Jordaan probably gets its name from the French ‘jardin’ for its floral street names and tree-lined canals. A Medieval slum and factory area, architect Hendrick Staets followed the lines of old ditches and paths, creating a maze of small canals around the dwellings he built for craftsmen, tradesmen, French Huguenots, Flemish migrants and artists, like Rembrandt, who lived on Bloemgracht and Rozenberg. Wandering among 800 listed buildings, the occupation of the original homeowners is seen in the gable carvings (left); pig for a butcher, hammer for a goldsmith and cow, sheep and chicken in the old Noordmarkt. Hofjes, the charitably created almshouses, are another Jordaan feature. The 1650 Kerthuizerhof still provides subsidised accommodation today. Claes…

✵ France Perched on a jagged outcrop of volcanic rock, the little church of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe stretches heavenward, rising protectively above the village of Aiguilhe, near Le-Puyen-Velay in the south east of the Massif Central. The chapel was built by Bishop Godescalc, the bishop of Puy, to celebrate his return from Santiago de Compostela, and was consecrated on 18 July 961 CE. The bishop was considered to be the first senior French cleric to undertake the journey, and this little shrine soon became an important starting point for others making the pilgrimage. The drama of the shrine’s location could hardly be bettered; the rock is 85 metres high and visitors can only reach it after climbing 268 stone steps. Construction was a challenge as workmen had to haul their…

✵ India Sacred spots have long been associated with water and the Golden Temple at Amritsar seems almost to float in a vast shimmering pool. The pool was created from a forest lake, which the Buddha himself is said to have visited and at which Guru Nanak – the founder of Sikhism – later meditated. The site went on to become the main shrine of Sikhism and the lake was enlarged and given the name Amritsar, or ‘pool of the nectar of immortality’. Building of the Sri Harmandir Sahib, or ‘the abode of God’, began in the late 16th century at the behest of the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev. In the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered it with gold. This Sikh place of worship, a ‘gurdwara’, was…

Angkor The Khmer Empire once ruled over most of south-east Asia, stretching from the coast of Vietnam to the Malay Peninsula. At its heart was the walled city of Angkor Thom, thought to have been the world’s most populous city in the 12th century with about 1 million inhabitants. Imperial might reached its peak under the rule of Jayavarman VII, who built Bayon temple at Angkor Thom, sometime in the late-12th or early-13th century. It was an official state temple, built primarily as a shrine to the Buddha and used for regular worship until Thai invaders sacked the area in 1431. Mystery surrounds the empire itself, as there are few written texts to draw on – however, the extraordinary complex of temples now preserved in the Angkor Archaeological Park are…

It was around 9am on 14 October 1066 when William, duke of Normandy, launched his attack at Hastings. Convinced that he was the rightful heir to the English throne, he had invaded the country some days earlier, landing at Pevensey on the Sussex coast. Now, King Harold’s troops were assembled on a hilltop a few kilometres inland and they were ready for battle. By 5pm, as darkness fell, Harold had been killed, his forces had fled and William had gained his prize. Saxon England was gone forever. 2016 marks 950 years since the Battle of Hastings and its legacy still exerts a grip on our imagination. The battle was precipitated by the death of Edward the Confessor on 5 January 1066. Edward, who had been king of England since 1042,…

Born in India and returning to it as a teenager, Kipling was an Anglo-Indian, part of the British elite when India was the ‘jewel in the crown of the British Empire’. He is often seen as an author who supported the Raj – the British administration – to the hilt. But he is more complicated than that. Yes, he accepted the Victorian view that British imperial rule was good for both Britain and its subjects, but he also saw the problems and dangers it presented, which gives unexpected depth to his work. India inspired two of the best-loved and most enduring books of his age: Kim, the story of a young boy involved with intrigue on India’s north-west frontier, and The Jungle Book, about the orphaned wolf-boy Mowgli growing up…