Kim, A Longman Cultural Edition

by Rudyard Kipling, Paula Krebs, Tricia Lootens

From Longman's Cultural Edition series, Rudyard Kipling's Kim , edited by Paula M. Krebs and Tricia Lootens, sets Kipling's most important novel in both its imperial and its literary contexts. Ever since its publication in 1900, Kipling's story of British India has catalyzed fantasies and debates over colonialism and imperialism. Through a series of selections from Kipling's poetry, travel writing, autobiography--and, crucially, his work as a young journalist--this edition offers students and teachers new ways of reading the tale of how the young streetwise Kim, "Little Friend of All the World," becomes both a Buddhist holy man's disciple and a British spy.

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2009

About the author

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."

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books, re-read for a book discussion. Really like this edition, enough that am planning to buy it. Good, involved discussion.