Something of Myself

by Rudyard Kipling

Kipling was one of the most popular writers in English, both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James famously said of him: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, 20th Century, Nobel Prize

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

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

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I didn't think I'd have any chance to read this memoir by Rudyard Kipling till I came across this one in the DASA BookCafe in Bangkok in early August 2012. I had read some of its few excerpts somewhere and longed to read it years ago. When I was young, I first read a Thai translated version (เมาคลี ลูกหมาป่า) and wondered who wrote this wonderful story. It's a pity its author was vaguely revealed to me then. Till many years later, in my early 20s I finally found some of his books, especially "The Jungle Books" in some college/university libraries and the hero's name Mowgli popped up in my mind. Therefore, I understood why there are two Thai names, that is, the one mentioned above and another rarely heard one โมวกลี. It's obviously a matter of Thai pronunciation from two translators, and I wonder which one has been more popular so far. For some reason, เมาคลี has been more popular and seemingly widely-used; however, Mowgli generally read as two syllables, that is, /mow.gli/ = /โมว.กลี/ is closer in its pronunciation than เมาคลี /mau.kli/.

This 8-chapter memoir is not lengthy (some 138 pages) so we can reasonably finish reading it if we've known and admired him. First of all, he was the first English writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907. Second, he wrote the inspiring poem 'If ---' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%E2%80%94] and innumerable others. Third, he was the first who famously stated that "East was East and West was West and never the twain shall meet." (p. 163). This has been a bit controversial since then, that is, some agree while some don't.

From his autobiography, I think, we can understand more and sympathize with him on his adversity while staying with a foster family in England, learning to cope with bullying by a few reckless boys and doing his best as a fledgling writer in the world of fierce, cold-blooded literary competition. Reading him may not interest some readers in the 21st century, however, we can learn from what he whole-heartedly wrote for the world to see, read and reflect. I read some of his short stories, I mean those understandable ones. Without fear or guilt, I've simply skipped those I don't have free time to tackle. At least, from his short story "In the House of Suddhoo" I found this sentence uniquely amazing and brilliant, "She was also beautiful, but that was her own affair." (Collected Stories, Everyman's Library, 1994. p. 6) since I have never read anyone who wrote like this before.

Therefore, this book as the version in his own words should by all means be read by Kipling's newcomers, enthusiasts or general readers so that they can see more light in terms of his ups and downs in which, interestingly, they might arguably affect his life and literary motives; one of the reasons is that when we read any of his works, we couldn't help wondering what he had in mind while writing that work.

[Richard R]

Earlier this year, I went on holiday to Sussex and Kent. There were two places in particular that I visited: Bateman's, the former home of Rudyard Kipling and Sissinghurst, the former home of Vita Sackville West. The latter had a giftshop filled with books by Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville West and her descendants. The former had no books by Kipling. This is not especially surprising: the start of the former Nobel laureate has fallen considerably over the years. Much of this inevitably stems from his views on imperialism but, in truth, it would most likely have happened in any case. Woolf was a genius. Kipling was not.

Kipling's autobiography does put much of this into perspective. Kipling frequently inveighs against weak liberal administration of the Empire, decrying attempts to allow Indian judges to adjudicate over white women (i.e. the sort of material that found it's way into A Passage to India) while dismissing metropolitan views that that the British in India spent their time oppressing the native. The Manchester Guardian's criticism of his work comes in for particular scorn for its denunciation of his 'iniquities."

Kipling also describes his experiences in South Africa during the Boer War, including his various conversations with Cecil Rhodes and writing poems supporting the introduction of conscription into England. In fairness, there is some nuance here: upon the conclusion of the war, Kipling writes that "we put them (the Afrikaner) in a position to uphold and expand their primitive lust for racial domination."

Something similar applies to his travels in America. Kipling is perfectly capable of musing that Lincoln had been unwise to cause the deaths of so many hardened Americans as to need further European immigration, elsewhere decrying the instinct of Irish immigrants for "secrecy and plunder." But equally, his response to a visit to the Smithsonian is to note "I never got over the wonder of a people who, having extirpated the aboriginals of their continent more completely than any modern race had done, honestly believed they were a godly little New England community, setting examples to brutal mankind."

The book is equally notable for what it doesn't contain. The account of his time in India doesn't really have any great engagement with the native population: it is largely an account of the British in India. It also omits entirely the death of his son in the First World War.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this short (122 pages) auto-biography in an anthology of Kipling's shorter works. For years I thought it must have been an excerpt, and hoped I would run across the full-length work. But no. I suspect it may have been cut short by his death, or perhaps edited by his surviving family, who were very protective.

Nonetheless, it's a fascinating read. Among other enjoyable bits, I find his advice on editing to be excellent, and perfectly relevant to modern writers (though as someone else who quoted it notes, beware if you write on an electronic device -- India ink won't help your screen clarity one bit.)

"This leads me to the Higher Editing. Take of well-ground Indian Ink as much as suffices and a camel-hair brush proportionate to the inter-spaces of your lines. In an auspicious hour, read your final draft and consider faithfully every paragraph, sentence and word, blacking out where requisite. Let it lie by to drain as long as possible. At the end of that time, re-read and you should find that it will bear a second shortening. Finally, read it aloud alone and at leisure. Maybe a shade more brushwork will then indicate or impose itself. If not, praise Allah and let it go, and ‘when thou hast done, repent not.’ The shorter the tale, the longer the brushwork and, normally, the shorter the lie-by, and vice versa. The longer the tale, the less brush but the longer lie-by. I have had tales by me for three or five years which shortened themselves almost yearly. The magic lies in the Brush and the Ink. For the Pen, when it is writing, can only scratch; and bottled ink is not to compare with the ground Chinese stick. Experto crede."

—Rudyard Kipling, Something of Myself

[Deborah Cater · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a shame that those who have little of interest to tell us release the third volume of their biographies by the age of 30, whilst others with a fascinating history leave it until the final countdown before starting their first volume. Such is the case with Kipling who did not leave enough time to complete his auto-biography before being called onto a greater place.

Where that greater place would be is difficult to say. From the first paragraph Kipling invokes Allah,and later states that as Islam was his first taste of religion he found it the sweeter taste. And so begins the slim volume, contradicting the racist colonialist impression that many post-colonialists force upon him and any of their readers.

Kipling was a product of his time, and a staunch colonialist but that does not mean that his works represent any race that is non-white, European as second class. Kipling had a genuine love for India, though his views of Hindus were negatively influenced by the Islamic outlook of his early life, and this is reflected in his works.

Kipling lightly touches on each of his works showing how his experiences shaped them, leaving some legwork for the reader. He met Hardy, Theodore Roosevelt, Cecil Rhodes and many other lumninaries of the time and the insight into their worlds is enlightening.

This is a witty, light-touch biography that is tantalising in its incompleteness.

[Antonio K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd set of memoirs - the narrative changes fairly dramatically as the book progresses, especially as Kipling's fame increased. The last 100-or-so pages consist mostly of Kipling galavanting around with his rich friends (notably Lord Rhodes, although William Wilcocks - who designed the Aswan dam, at the time one of the largest in the world - also handles the electrical wiring for Kipling's new house). The book is worth the read insofar as it provides interesting context for a lot of Kipling's works (i.e. that they are driven by a longing and perhaps romanticization of an upbringing as a "child of the British Empire" that can never be revisited).

[Peter Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s exactly what it says in the title, not quite an autobiography but some slices of Kipling’s life. Not always perfectly remembered but always interesting, insightful and very Kipling – and a little something of the life of Kipling by Kipling is something to treasure.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reflections on the author’s life. Some entertaining insights.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kipling had a popularity with other writers (Joyce put his talent next to Tolstoy's; William and Henry James loved him) that seems mysterious until you actually read him. His sentences are dense and tactile - whole pages drip with details made resonant and powerful through economy, architecture, and one of the most eclectic vocabularies I've ever read. "Something of Myself" is his very self-protective memoir, interesting especially for the parts about India and writing. The last chapter, called "Working Tools," is fascinating the way it's fascinating to listen to a mason talk about a wall he's making. A sort of proto craft confession, like the "Art of..." interviews in the Paris Review. Ink types, hours of work, revision, favorite paper: all this is discussed as pedantically (and therefore, convincingly) as possible. But the most compelling part, for me at least, is when Kipling speaks about his "Daemon." The idea of writer as vessel for a dictating power is usually a recipe for laziness, but Kipling's precise and unromantic tone makes it sound like just another tool (if maybe the most important).

[Doug Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best description of a tandem ever. Set amongst a myriad of enlightening, interesting and honest prose. Fascinating.

[Liz Wager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but (of course) beautifully written memoir with some brilliant insights on writing

[Martyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've not yet read a great deal by Kipling but my general impression is that he is a rather weird writer in that what he writes doesn't make much sense. In his head it might, but he never manages to transfer his meaning to paper very well. Perhaps the contents of this autobiography help explain that - that the sound of his words, when read aloud, is more important to him than the meaning alone. He perhaps therefore liked something best that sounded pleasant in the ear or tripped lightly off the tongue even if it didn't actually make much sense. But he also described the process of writing, and it sounded like perhaps he did originally write things out at greater length but would then work over the text again and again, over a period of months or years, stripping out all the text that was too verbose or unnecessary. But if so, the meaning of his words was probably often lost with it. He might have known full well in his head what he was trying to convey and thought that the eradication of a word here, a few words there, might make for greater brevity and clarity, but instead we're left with a series of stepping stones through a murky pond, able to skip along pleasantly enough from A to B, but not being able to see anything beneath the surface of the water and feeling like we are most definitely missing seeing something. Possibly this tendency of his became greater with age so that his earlier works are the most clear and the most enjoyable and his later works more obscure. This book is one of his later ones.

But in amongst the more obscure remarks there are many interesting reminiscences to be found, of his life, of his high-profile relations, friends, and connections. It's interesting to hear that his political views were sometimes criticised even in his own day. But we get to see some things from his perspective and can sympathise with some of his sentiments - like the hypocrisy of people living in the West who levelled charges of oppression against the British regimes governing abroad while domestic servants at home were often being treated in a much more inconsiderate and inhumane manner than their 'oppressed' counterparts in the tasks they were expected to perform for pitiful wages.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book , RK looking back and vaguely remembering bits of his life in little randomly selected coloured cameos .

The early days in India , the vile and hateful boarding house in England ( where he learned to insulate himself, immersing himself in his imaginings whence his writing ), back to India and OMG just walking into an awesome job as a journalist on a newspaper in Lahore , oh and really getting on with his parents whom he hadn’t seen since he was 6 cos they had sent him to board in England !!! Seems amazing but true.

Then starting to write stories for his newspaper, then seamlessly becoming world famous and taking off round the world and living in New England , England , South Africa , Australia ... marrying , having Henry James at his wedding ( one of only 3 guests ! ) Also many of his family sort of automatically became or were at the forefront of either the arts , literature or politics .... quite a charmed life except for the great tragedy ( he lost his only son John in 15 in the war ) which does not get a mention.

Throughout all of this , RK remains completely modest and intimate as an author . The voice is of one who is telling his story - in a slightly quirky manner , with occasional unusual sentence and word choices - across the table with a smile or chuckle. I liked the man and of course you read it wistfully as he is now very long dead and what he is telling you is personal and from the heart .

So a sad book but a real insight into this literary figure who at the turn of the last century was a dominant figure in literature- poesy and short story writing .

Ps: Incidentally I have recently written a critical review on his novel “ Kim “ . Interesting to note what his mother said after he had finished its writing :

“ RK said to his mother as to the plot for Kim “ what was good enough for Cervantes was good enough for him . To whom the mother “ don’t you stand in your wool boots hiding behind Cervantes with me ! You know you couldn’t make a plot to save your soul “

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisher kannte ich von Rudyard Kipling nur das Dschungelbuch, das mir gut gefallen hatte. Direkt vor der Lektüre hatte ich ein anderes Buch von ihm gelesen, die mir überhaupt nicht gefallen hatten. Deshalb habe ich ein drittes Buch des Autors gebraucht, um meine Meinung über ihn in die eine oder andere Richtung zu bewegen.

Vor der Autobiografie stand eine kurze Biografie Kiplings von einem anderen Autor. Das fand ich unnötig, denn schließlich ist das Buch eine Biografie, wenn auch keine sehr dicke. Das ist auch meine einzige Kritik. Kipling beschreibt sein Leben eher unaufgeregt. Er erzählt kleine Anekdoten und oft kann man aus einer Bemerkung mehr erfahren als bei mancher viel umfangreicheren. Er wirkt bescheiden und kann mit seinen zahlreichen Ehrungen nicht viel anfangen. Manchmal hatte ich sogar das Gefühl, als ob sie ihn verunsichern. Schmunzeln musste ich darüber, wie er zu seinem Namen gekommen ist. Der kommt nämlich von dem See, an dem sich seine Eltern verlobt haben.

Es gab auch Parallelen zur heutigen Zeit. So hat sowohl der Autor der Autobiografie wie auch die Leserin das Diamantjubiläum der britischen Königin erlebt. Und dass er sich über die Menschen, die lernten ein neues Ding namens Fahrrad zu fahren, hat die Radlerin auf der anderen Seite der Biografie auch amüsiert. Nach dieser Lektüre ist meine Meinung über Rudyard Kipling wieder eine sehr positive.

[Stanley Goldyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The genesis of my interest in reading an autobiography of this famous author lay in the style, word choice, sentence structure, and so on, used by Rudyard Kipling (RK) (1865 - 1936) in his works.

A huge staunch fan of Arthur Conan Doyle (ACD) (1859 - 1930), I wished to compare their writing styles, as both were well-travelled, visited the same haunts (among them India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand), shared the same epoch in history, and survived into their septuagenarian years.

My inference suggests that ACD wrote using a more direct 'scientific' style - as perhaps, through the eyes of his fictitious Dr Watson - being a medical doctor himself, whereas RK's prose contained a romantic fluency, which carried a certain attractiveness, but which could suffer, on occasion, from a lack of clarity.

Both became famous in their lifetimes and deservedly gained honours and literary recognition. RK's memoirs here form a collection of incidents from his rich life - experiencing places, people and grievances, etc., but lack the emotional attachment that true memoirs contain and share. This, in my opinion detracted from an otherwise interesting read.

Four stars, however, as I gleaned much from within his biographical pages.

[Pierre Stolte · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly shallow autobiography.

Major characters in his life are expunged. His parents and his wife are never named. There's no real depth to it, and you have to wonder what purpose it served (the subtitle is "To My Friends, Known and Unknown, but his friends would've known that this was a glossed-over, Teflon book).

Much of the autobiography is filled with what appears to be undefined family slang and awkward turns of phrase that left this reader more befuddled than anything. But the worst crime is that Kipling appears incapable of being honest with or about himself so that other authorities need to be consulted to determine what was actually happening.

Personally, the only truly interesting part was where he was swindled when buying 20 acres in North Vancouver in the late 1800s. Kipling could've ended up a Vancouverite, and a major land owner here, but instead found he'd invested in air (but annually paid the taxes on it).

[Chucho LDR · Rating 4 out of 5]

La vida de este escritor británico (nacido en La India cuando era parte de la corona inglesa) resulta muy interesante, y permite entender mejor sus obras. El mismo Kipling menciona de donde tomó sus ideas y su inspiración.
Esta autobiografía me gustó bastante, porque el autor cuenta de forma fluida sus diferentes experiencias, sus pensamientos e inclusive su vida cotidiana.
Me resultó un libro bastante ameno y entretenido. Este año leí su obra Kim, del cual no fui muy fan, pero después de leer este texto considero darle a esa novela otra oportunidad.
Algo que me gusta de las biografías es que entendemos mejor a los autores, así como el contexto histórico en el que vivieron y en que escribieron.
Si les gustó Kim o El Libro de la Selva, les recomiendo que lean la autobiografía de Rudyard Kipling.

[Jonathan Palfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a less clear account of Kipling’s life than an independent biographer might aspire to write. It is basically a collection of old memories and musings written down at the end of his life, but they are at least separated out into chapters in chronological order, and written in his own readable and distinctive style. He seems to have had a good memory, stretching back to his early childhood, although of course no human memory is reliably accurate.

He was born in December 1865, survived various early hardships, and lived to January 1936, reaching the age of 70. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, arriving in Stockholm in December 1907 to find the country in mourning for the death of the King.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read on Hoopla the book, Something of Myself by Rudyard Kipling. I had added this book to my Must Read List on January 2, 2024 because I wanted to read his work.

Kipling began work on the autobiography on 1 August 1935, and was last reported to work on it (doing revisions) on 26 December of the same year. He died on 18 January 1936. The unfinished manuscript was edited and prepared for publication by his wife, Caroline Starr Balestier. After preliminary printing of selections from the text in a number of newspapers, the book was published by Macmillan, Kipling's established UK publisher, on 21 December 1937.

In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, as the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and at 41, its youngest recipient to date.

Good read indeed

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autobiographical account.

With tales ranging from childhood, through his returning the first attempt to bribe him -- his servant, hearing of it, told him to not eat or drink anything except from the servant's hands for the rest of the visit -- to a cruise, late in his life, where a friend of his secured their table for the rest of the cruise by assuring another passenger that actually, he could verify that the food was worse than prison food from personal experience.

He met very many famous people in the incidents of life -- his uncle was the painter Sir Edward Burne-Jones -- though to Theodore Roosevelt when he was Under-Secretary of Navy, and how Kipling told him that the Boers regarded themselves as the Dutch, and the actual Dutch, and Roosevelt himself, as Hollanders.

The final chapter discusses his writing process.

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kipling meanders a bit here and definitely wasn't going for a "tell-all" sort of autobiography. At the same time, though, I enjoyed his enjoyment of the world around him. He really seemed to love India, Aukland, etc., and has an amused, yet slightly detached, view of his life and times.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kipling fan. Need to create a separate shelf. Not sure I would suggest as your first Kipling book. Good on 19th century British prep schools, day to day life for the aspiring journalist and a bit of life in India.

[Christopher Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An occasionally fascinating insight into the life and work of one of England's most celebrated authors; the part about his childhood was particularly interesting, though his little asides and knowing nods often left me wondering what he was talking about.

[Saumya · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the most boring books I have read. Thank God for the last chapter - 2 stars for that.
If you want to know about Kipling, read his biographies. This autobiography is just a narration of random events of his life mostly.

[Mhbright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appropriately titled autobiography, a sketch rather than a detailed portrait, but full of interest.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look into his life, more of a sketch than a deep autobiography. An interesting look into another time, another place.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read the autobiography after reading the Jungle Books.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting details of people and places, but really a snapshot. Will support a good biography of Kipling - to be read!

[Karla Jarero García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triste infancia, pero una vida como para presumir

[Joseph Doss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth a read, but not a re-read. He shares some unique perspective of his life and time. The witty rhetoric is the best part.

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and as I expected beautifully written