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The Drums of the Fore and Aft
Excerpt from The Drums of the Fore and Aft
The British soldier is not altogether to be blamed for occasional lapses; but this verdict he should not know. A moderately intelligent general will waste six months in mastering the craft of the particular war that he may be waging; a colonel may utterly misunderstand the capacity of his regiment for three months after it has taken the field; and even a company commander may err and be deceived as to the temper and temperament of his own handful; where fore the soldier, and the soldier of to-day more particularly, should not be blamed for falling back. He should be shot or hanged afterwards - pour encourager les autres - but he should not be vilified in newspapers, for that is want of tact and waste of space.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
The British soldier is not altogether to be blamed for occasional lapses; but this verdict he should not know. A moderately intelligent general will waste six months in mastering the craft of the particular war that he may be waging; a colonel may utterly misunderstand the capacity of his regiment for three months after it has taken the field; and even a company commander may err and be deceived as to the temper and temperament of his own handful; where fore the soldier, and the soldier of to-day more particularly, should not be blamed for falling back. He should be shot or hanged afterwards - pour encourager les autres - but he should not be vilified in newspapers, for that is want of tact and waste of space.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
- GenresShort Stories
126 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,485 books3,809 followersJoseph 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 25, 2018
I first was introduced to the short story when I took an English short story class in college during the 1980's. There is one book that I wish I still had but after many, many years and a good amount of moving, this thick yellow paperback of short stories and plays was lost. I had read from it many years after the class ended and enjoyed it still. It had a lot of classic stories, D. H. Lawrence and Ibsen, to name a few.
Fast forward to present day.... This year I started embracing the short story and loving it. From authors that I read their novels and finding their short stories gems in themselves, to never read before but wanting to try authors, staring with their short stories and later to try their novel, (as this was Kipling for me). I found some short stories through some friends here at Goodreads and another source is my listening to OTR, (old time radio), which is why I wanted to read this short story gem by Rudyard Kipling.
Several weeks ago, I heard an "Escape" episode again with 14 year-old, Piggy Lew and Jenkins. When I first heard it I knew that I wanted to read Kipling sometime but after hearing it again, I wanted to see if Kipling's story kept true to the radio production.
Yes and no, Piggy Lew and Jenkins hold true but with slight alterations. In the radio broadcast, these two young orphans of the Fore and Alt regiment, are troublemakers but also very loyal to the group of men. They are not fighters yet but play the drums and the fife. In the story all holds true but Kipling has more his philosophy of the men of war and what he thinks the men need to fight. In his story you hear of the maneuvers of the troops and of the newly recruited men that have not seen a battlefield and all that entails.
I found Kipling's thoughts on war fascinating and would have loved to hear his thoughts on all with regards to the military and wars since his death to modern times.
I would ask him about his theory, I quoted below. He writes this 1899.
"About thirty years from this date, when we have succeeded in half-educating everything that wears trousers, our Army will be a beautifully unreliable machine. It will know too much and it will do too little."
I will not say more to that then you must read the story to see what he is exactly talking about in his own words.
I must warn those not wanting to see a word that is mentioned many times with regards to a certain people, you must be forewarned it is here and not very pleasant to see. I read many older books and see one group or another get it, but I see it as was then but I still enjoy the stories nonetheless. Individuals should be judged for their conduct to others not groups of people, for there are good, bad and ugly in every group of people.
About Piggy Lew, Jenkins and the men of The Fore and Aft, you must read to find out what makes them remarkable or listen to my link below.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
I did not read it with this edition but with my Delphi collection of his works, where my notes and highlights are for those interested. See my Kipling shelf for that kindle book.
Fast forward to present day.... This year I started embracing the short story and loving it. From authors that I read their novels and finding their short stories gems in themselves, to never read before but wanting to try authors, staring with their short stories and later to try their novel, (as this was Kipling for me). I found some short stories through some friends here at Goodreads and another source is my listening to OTR, (old time radio), which is why I wanted to read this short story gem by Rudyard Kipling.
Several weeks ago, I heard an "Escape" episode again with 14 year-old, Piggy Lew and Jenkins. When I first heard it I knew that I wanted to read Kipling sometime but after hearing it again, I wanted to see if Kipling's story kept true to the radio production.
Yes and no, Piggy Lew and Jenkins hold true but with slight alterations. In the radio broadcast, these two young orphans of the Fore and Alt regiment, are troublemakers but also very loyal to the group of men. They are not fighters yet but play the drums and the fife. In the story all holds true but Kipling has more his philosophy of the men of war and what he thinks the men need to fight. In his story you hear of the maneuvers of the troops and of the newly recruited men that have not seen a battlefield and all that entails.
I found Kipling's thoughts on war fascinating and would have loved to hear his thoughts on all with regards to the military and wars since his death to modern times.
I would ask him about his theory, I quoted below. He writes this 1899.
"About thirty years from this date, when we have succeeded in half-educating everything that wears trousers, our Army will be a beautifully unreliable machine. It will know too much and it will do too little."
I will not say more to that then you must read the story to see what he is exactly talking about in his own words.
I must warn those not wanting to see a word that is mentioned many times with regards to a certain people, you must be forewarned it is here and not very pleasant to see. I read many older books and see one group or another get it, but I see it as was then but I still enjoy the stories nonetheless. Individuals should be judged for their conduct to others not groups of people, for there are good, bad and ugly in every group of people.
About Piggy Lew, Jenkins and the men of The Fore and Aft, you must read to find out what makes them remarkable or listen to my link below.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
I did not read it with this edition but with my Delphi collection of his works, where my notes and highlights are for those interested. See my Kipling shelf for that kindle book.
October 20, 2010
Starts slow, ends quick!
A must for every military man/person!
A must for every military man/person!
January 14, 2018
Overall a very good book to read. Beautifully written and exceptionally descriptive. The narrative focuses on British Military action in Afghanistan using Gurkhas.
On one side you can pick up the style of the era, very British, empirical, the glories of the British Empire and Britain over the local natives and savages. By doing this and with a modern eye and historical perspective you can see why Kipling is an out of favour author.
At the same time you see underlying issues, children fighting in the army, showing more courage, putting the adults to shame. The story also highlights the disorganisation within the army and its ranks.
On one side you can pick up the style of the era, very British, empirical, the glories of the British Empire and Britain over the local natives and savages. By doing this and with a modern eye and historical perspective you can see why Kipling is an out of favour author.
At the same time you see underlying issues, children fighting in the army, showing more courage, putting the adults to shame. The story also highlights the disorganisation within the army and its ranks.
November 11, 2019
Decent story, goes through some highs and lows, but drags on quite a bit.
February 12, 2025
Not Kipling's best work, but still an interesting read.
January 6, 2015
So we know that Rudyard Kipling was a British colonialist imperialist writer. Should we then still read him? Other than the odd poem I came across, and the Mowgli stories, I had more or less avoided this question because there are so many other authors to read.
However, I attended an event where this story was read in full in dramatic fashion. (A live audiobook, one might say.) So I think I can review it despite not reading it with my eyes.
Kipling shows understanding of the stunted, poorly trained nature of English army regiments comprised of men and boys (as young as 12) taken from the Manchester area. He has a good eye and ear for the absurdity of real-life battle situations, and the cluelessness of brigadier-generals. He is not didactic, but descriptive, as he describes the poor condition of the English soldiers as they are set up to fight an incredibly mean, harsh battle in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Reading more stories like this could be beneficial, one would hope, for those who want to send poorly prepared soldiers off to war and have them led by officers who don't have any idea what they are doing. Not to mention that it would have been quite useful for many top officials to have a better idea of how tough it has been to fight in Afghanistan, for the last few thousand years or so.
I am not saying that Kipling does not have offensive sentiments in his work, because he does. But enough of value remains in his works that they can still be worth reading.
However, I attended an event where this story was read in full in dramatic fashion. (A live audiobook, one might say.) So I think I can review it despite not reading it with my eyes.
Kipling shows understanding of the stunted, poorly trained nature of English army regiments comprised of men and boys (as young as 12) taken from the Manchester area. He has a good eye and ear for the absurdity of real-life battle situations, and the cluelessness of brigadier-generals. He is not didactic, but descriptive, as he describes the poor condition of the English soldiers as they are set up to fight an incredibly mean, harsh battle in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Reading more stories like this could be beneficial, one would hope, for those who want to send poorly prepared soldiers off to war and have them led by officers who don't have any idea what they are doing. Not to mention that it would have been quite useful for many top officials to have a better idea of how tough it has been to fight in Afghanistan, for the last few thousand years or so.
I am not saying that Kipling does not have offensive sentiments in his work, because he does. But enough of value remains in his works that they can still be worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews