Kim

by Rudyard Kipling, Tricia Lootens, Paula Krebs

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,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0321435834
• ISBN13: 9780321435835
• Release Date: December 2009
• Publisher: Pearson
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A spiritual journey

This was Kipling's only full-length novel. For it he was reviled, during his lifetime, both as an imperialist and as an Indian-independence sympathizer. In truth, the novel reflects Kipling's own experience - first as child abandoned by his parents while they went to India, then as a treasured child upon whom all the love and attention of the Indian Ayahs (nannies) was showered, when his parents returned and took him to India to live. Actually, there are three aspects or themes of the story, reflecting the different phases of Kipling's life in India: first, as an army orphan, abandoned by those who were set to watch over him; second, as a participant inducted into the "Great Game" - the unseen, silent war of espionage between the British and the 19th century Russian Empire; third, as a spiritual journey as the boy, Kim, becoming a man, follows a Tibetan monk in search of a river that cleanses the soul. The way in which Kipling weaves these three themes together is quite unparalleled in modern literature. There are points where the writing verges on sublime. Also, in the context of the two recent conflicts in Afghanistan, the story contains much pertinent historical context. I know of no other novel quite like it.

unforgettable

This is one of those books that, even if you read then at an early age, you'll always remember with tenderness. It has adventure, fun, suspense; it makes you think about life and people in different parts of the world. When I first read it - I was sixteen - I wanted to go to India and see all those places and villages. I read it until today with the same pleasure.

A captivating clasic of Indian Literature

Kim is probably one of the best books ever written on India and certainly within the league of E.M.Forster and Paul Scott.This little treasure describes India with a love and power of observation that is absolutely captivating and charming at the same time.Kim is a rogue like Huck Finn and Oliver Twist. He is the man for all opportunities and is called the "Friend of all Mankind". He is neither Hindu nor Muslim, he is neither Buddhist nor Christian. Given his background as the orphan son of a Irish military man and a local girl he is a little bit of everything. In Kim Kipling personifies all the good of Inida while playing down the contrasts, in particular the religious one; he shows us what India would have been like in an ideal situation of mutual tolerance.Apart from these philosophical considerations, Kim is simply a very well written book. Every passage betrays Kiplings background as a poet and sometimes passages really need to be reread for their beauty. His observations are striking and one realises from time to time that it is not the writers imagination about a period long gone; he was actually part of that period.One thing Kim is not: a childrens book. Like Siddharta ,a child may be the main character, but the book is far to philosophical and aimed observing intricate human behaviour to be of much interest to children. I would even maintain that Kim should not be the first book to read about India.However, one of the best reads I had in a long time.