War Stories and Poems

by Rudyard Kipling, Andrew Rutherford (Editor)

This unique anthology of Kipling's war stories and poems provides critical comment on the ineptitude of the British in the Boer War. Including such stories as "Barrack-Room Ballads," this work provides tales of courage and adventure, as well as shameful episodes of retreat and failure.

Genres: Short Stories, War, Classics, Fiction, Poetry

404 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

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

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1990 collection of some of Kipling's war stories, as well as some of his war poems. Much as I love reading anything by Kipling, I appreciate that nowadays it is an acquired taste. However, his war stories in my opinion have stood the test of time and read very well, but as a result many of those featured here have been collected often before. Nevertheless, an excellent choice with an ability to surprise the reader with sudden moments of extreme violence delivered in a no-nonsense casual way. The short items of poetry placed in between each story were my first real experience of Kipling's poetry, but didn't really make any impression on me at all, I guess I just don't enjoy poetry unless it's Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Not a problem, as it occupies such a small portion of the book. Very enjoyable.

[Brian Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coming from Oxford University Press, War Stories and Poems is a bit of a disappointment. First, how could they omit “Gunga Din,” Kipling’s most famous and poignant war poem with the immortal lines:

Though I’ve belted you and flayed you,
By the livin’ Gawd that made you,
You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

Aside from that omission, the text is liberally sprinkled with asterisks following the great many unfamiliar terms and soldier colloquialisms. That’s fine. I’ll confess to ignorance in the face of words such as “Fellaheen” and “bhai.” But rather than placing the explanatory text at the bottom of the relevant page, OUP buries them at the back of the book, indexed by page number. With the frequency at which elucidation is required, this makes for awkward reading. The book has the feel of being just thrown together without much scholarly attention (or how else could “Gunga Din” have been omitted).

I don’t know what other Kipling collections are out there, but I’d think twice before ordering this one.

Finally, here is a line from Kipling that ought to be remembered: “It was a war of fools armed with the weapons of magicians.” (p. 168)

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides many glimpses into the various colonial military conflicts Britain was embroiled in at the turn of the 20th century. None of the stories were dull and the poems were charming. A very honest and balanced perspective, so I wouldn't recommend it for loonie lefties!

[Owen O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows --in poignant fashion -- Kipling's line of life from his youth to his later years. It also shows the evolution of his writing, which is fascinating in and of itself. Much brilliant work here, and work that goes much deeper than some (I think many these days) choose to give him credit for. Such is the nature of Kipling and his work, that he is a mirror for those who are narrow-minded and window for those who are the opposite, and that is perhaps no where more apparent in these stories.

[John Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kipling is masterful and the book is full of enjoyable stories and poetry that tells of soldiering in ways not often found in "military literature." And literature it is, as Kipling's command of description and the soldier's sense is impressive.