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The Bridge-Builders
full text. A fabulous detailed description of the construction of a great railway bridge (the "Kashi Bridge") across the Ganges. The novella — regarded as one of the best of its kind — illustrates Kipling's remarkable capacity for assimilating and portraying details of civil engineering practice which he had largely learned from the engineers themselves. The bridge is nearing completion when it is threatened by a major flood. After taking all possible precautions to save his bridge, the Chief Engineer, Findlayson, is swept down the river at night in a small boat, onto an island, with his Lascar foreman, who gives him opium to stave off the cold. Under the influence of the drug, he has a vision of the gods of India. They do not care for change in the old order of things, and so protest against the bridging of the river. The bridge stands, despite the flood, but in the broad sweep of human history, perhaps this is not such a deep loss to the old gods, who will always be there to claim the allegiance of men and women in different ways, whatever material changes there may be. While people dream, the gods will still be there.
60 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2011
11 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,211 books3,687 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 21, 2018
Brilliant!!
It is not so common to find stories with the participation of Indian mythology. At least the most popular literature emphasizes the Norse myths, Greeks and long-bearded magicians holding a staff of power.
The tales of the 19th century several times have a different approach: many of them speak of folkloric beings from different european regions, Russian, Scottish, North American, African, Asian and even South American villages.
The old Marlins-style magician gives way to the adventurer of magic, occultism, and spiritualism. In this story of Kipling it is the Indian gurus and the Gods of India that emerge in a crazy pantomime.
And a debate is open, a dialogue that brings in itself the title theme of this story: The Bridge Builders. Kipling brilliantly transposes the reality - the construction of a physical bridge that crosses the Ganges river - to others bridge builders- a discussion from the Indian gods about the relationship between theirselves and humanity. Each god with a specific opinion about mankind: from mere grains of dust to devotees to be understood.
Parallel to it there are two people who think to hear the conversation of the gods (were they awake or under opium hallucination?)
For them there are other questions: their own survival, conventional life and the dichotomy between the sage and the guru: where faith and wisdom often combine or repel each other according to the experience of each individual.
It is not so common to find stories with the participation of Indian mythology. At least the most popular literature emphasizes the Norse myths, Greeks and long-bearded magicians holding a staff of power.
The tales of the 19th century several times have a different approach: many of them speak of folkloric beings from different european regions, Russian, Scottish, North American, African, Asian and even South American villages.
The old Marlins-style magician gives way to the adventurer of magic, occultism, and spiritualism. In this story of Kipling it is the Indian gurus and the Gods of India that emerge in a crazy pantomime.
And a debate is open, a dialogue that brings in itself the title theme of this story: The Bridge Builders. Kipling brilliantly transposes the reality - the construction of a physical bridge that crosses the Ganges river - to others bridge builders- a discussion from the Indian gods about the relationship between theirselves and humanity. Each god with a specific opinion about mankind: from mere grains of dust to devotees to be understood.
Parallel to it there are two people who think to hear the conversation of the gods (were they awake or under opium hallucination?)
For them there are other questions: their own survival, conventional life and the dichotomy between the sage and the guru: where faith and wisdom often combine or repel each other according to the experience of each individual.
Want to read
July 25, 2020Huit nouvelles:
Les Bâtisseurs de ponts ****
Petit Tobrah
Namgay Doola
En Famine
Au Fond de l'impasse
Les Finances des dieux
La Cité des songes
Les Bâtisseurs de ponts ****
Petit Tobrah
Namgay Doola
En Famine
Au Fond de l'impasse
Les Finances des dieux
La Cité des songes
July 2, 2016
This is a beautifully written story. It starts out with a technical account of the building of a bridge, then evocatively describes the coming of a terrible flood, and ends with a fever dream marked by vivid imagery and sophisticated debate. Read it on a rainy night.
March 12, 2017
An opium dream?
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Bridge Builders (Kindle Edition)
An excellent metaphor for the British colonization of India. If it was an opium dream, then both men had the same dream of the gods of India.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Bridge Builders (Kindle Edition)
An excellent metaphor for the British colonization of India. If it was an opium dream, then both men had the same dream of the gods of India.
February 6, 2019
“I was troubled for my boats and sheers before the flood came. Now we are in the hands of the Gods."
August 15, 2018
The story begins by a construction of a bridge. It was rather beautifully written and described. The story morphs into Indian Mythology. It was kind of hard to follow in parts.
May 21, 2023
Bastante aburrido
January 30, 2011
His technical knowledge and descriptions were pretty amazing. I just got lost toward the end and wondered what it meant at the very end. I looked it up, I was very very close. But, all of the Indian religion references were trying (and somewhat confusing)to me.
August 3, 2011
Well-written, atmospheric story about bridge engineers in India. Towards the end, it becomes rather crazy when the main character (and Kipling too?) takes an opium trip into Indian mythology, which unfortunately spoiled a promising story for me. Traces of Jungle Book are quite prevalent throughout.
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August 13, 2020The lions! Lions? Yes lions!!! And I thought I had it bad
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews