Rudyard Kipling's 'The Complete Poetical Works of Rudyard Kipling' is a comprehensive collection of over 570 poems that showcase Kipling's diverse range of themes and styles. Spanning from his early works to his later poems, this edition provides readers with a glimpse into Kipling's literary evolution and mastery of verse. Kipling's poetry reflects the colonial and imperialist attitudes of his time, with a mix of patriotism, nostalgia, and a deep understanding of human nature. His use of vivid imagery and rhythmic language mesmerizes readers and invites them to delve into the complex emotions and experiences portrayed in his poems. Kipling's poems are not only a reflection of his personal beliefs and experiences but also serve as a commentary on the social and political climate of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With this collection, readers can appreciate the depth and breadth of Kipling's poetic talent and gain insight into the historical context that influenced his work. Fans of poetry, literature, and history will find 'The Complete Poetical Works of Rudyard Kipling' a valuable addition to their library, offering a rich tapestry of verse that continues to resonate with readers today.
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."