Book description
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is often regarded as the unofficial
Laureate of the British Empire. Yet his writing reveals a ferociously
independent figure at times violently opposed to the dominant political
and literary tendencies of his age. Arranged in chronological order,
this diverse selection of his poetry shows the development of Kipling's
talent, his deepening maturity and the growing sombreness of his poetic
vision. Ranging from early, exhilarating celebrations of British
expansion overseas, including 'Mandalay' and 'Gunga Din', to the
dignified and inspirational 'If -' and the later, deeply moving
'Epitaphs of the War' - inspired by the death of Kipling's only son - it
clearly illustrates the scope and originality of his work. It also
offers a compelling insight into the Empire both at its peak and during
its decline in the early years of the twentieth century.
Rudyard Joseph Kipling was born in Bombay in 1865 but spent most of
his childhood in England. He returned to India in 1881 as a journalist
and also wrote stories, sketches and poems. His literary reputation
was established with Plain Tales from the Hills (1888). Today he is
best remembered for The Jungle Book and Kim. He was the first English
writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907.
Before his retirement, Peter Keating was reader in English at
Edinburgh. He is now a full-time writer.
