Description
Kipling Sahib: India and the Making of Rudyard Kipling by Charles Allen explores the profound influence of India on the early life and career of Rudyard Kipling, one of the most iconic writers of the British Empire. Allen delves into the years Kipling spent in India, from his birth in Bombay (now Mumbai) to his early adulthood, showing how the subcontinent’s culture, politics, and people shaped his writing and worldview.
The book traces Kipling’s experiences as a child raised in colonial India, his education in England, and his return to the country as a young journalist. Allen paints a vivid picture of British colonial life during the late 19th century and examines the complex relationship Kipling had with both the British ruling class and the Indian society he observed. India, with its vibrant landscapes, diverse peoples, and imperial tensions, deeply influenced Kipling’s most famous works, including The Jungle Book, Kim, and his short stories.
Allen meticulously uses Kipling’s letters, diaries, and writings to explore the duality in Kipling’s views—his love and fascination with India alongside his support for British imperialism. He highlights how Kipling’s time as a reporter in Lahore and his encounters with different facets of Indian life provided material for his stories, which reflected the complexities of empire, race, and identity.
Kipling Sahib is not just a biography of Kipling but also an exploration of the British Raj through Kipling’s eyes, offering a nuanced view of both the man and the world he inhabited. Allen provides historical context that enriches the understanding of Kipling’s literary legacy, making it an essential read for those interested in the intersections of literature, history, and colonialism
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