Captains Courageous (published in 1897) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
This is one of my favorite childhood books which hold a fascination even today. This coming of age story of a rich millionaire brat has been rehashed in countless movies and novels, but nothing comes near Kipling's rendition.



Harvey Cheyene is a rich kid whose father is interested in his millions and mother who has a weak will and nerves. Harvey is a spoilt brat with no concerns for fellow men and is fully immersed in his way of life as a party animal, a la Paris Hilton. At the beginning of the story, Harvey is on a cruise, on one of his father's innumerable ships. The ocean liner is crossing the grand banks cutting through the thick of fog and Harvey's more concern is about the noise from the squawking fishing vessels near by. His disconnect with his surroundings is evident from his statement "You can hear the fish-boats squawking all around us. Wouldn't it be great if we ran one down!".
So the self centered Harvey is tricked in to smoking a oily Cigar and as he clears air on the deck, a grand wave washes him overboard. The next thing he remembers is waking up on a tone of fish with a broad back man on a blue jersey who introduces himself as Manuelo. Harvey is rescued by a schooner “We're Here of Gloucester” captained by Disko Troop. Troop's son Dan keeps vigil while Harvey sleeps of his fatigue. True to his spoilt nature, Harvey demands to be taken back to New York and tells them “what a rich boy he is” and the rich haul they can have from his father. Troop refuses to believe his yarn and offers him a job on the schooner in lieu of his keep. Thus Harvey begins his life as a fisherman, gutting the fish with others.
Kipling very gamely describes the back breaking work of a fishing trawler at sea for months. He through Harvey's lessons tells how fish is caught, gutted and stored for sale. Harvey along with Dan, Manuel, Penn, Long Jack, Old Salters, Tom Platt and Disko troop pitches, cuts and salts the fish and the millionaire boy has to get on with life. Soon he gets the hang of it and takes pride in his new life. Deep friendship is formed with Dan during their watches aboard the schooner and Harvey from a spoilt pale white boy turns to a clear eyed, strong level headed creature who respects even the smallest of boats.
When Mom and Dad catch up with him, they are surprised by the transformation and Harvey has a heart to heart talk with his Dad. Harvey leaves with a promise of getting Dan a place as mate in his shipping company and a promise to live life with respect. Respect is what Harvey learns aboard the humble schooner and the reader sees that in his parting words “Great ships these of my father's? Oh yes," But back in Gloucester are the able little vessels. The We're Here, she's one. I owe a heap to her-to her and her crew."
And we owe Kipling our gratitude for a swell tale of a boy who turns out to be the best of men.

Stalky & Co (Published in 1899) - Written by Rudyard Kipling, a collection of short stories

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans Burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Stalky and Co is a collection of stories about adolescent boys who are in a boarding school in a quaint town of Westward Ho!. These stories are influenced by the real life boarding school experiences of Kipling and Stalky is inspired from his friend LC Dunsterville and Beetle being the bespectacled avatar of himself. The others include, M'Turk based on George Charles Beresford, Mr King based on William Carr Crofts and the school is based on the United Services College.



Stalky, the type of self-contained boy who smiles at you as he plots your destruction. McTurk, an Irish aristocrat for whom bad aestheticism is the worst crime. And, refreshingly, Beetle, a bespectacled poet. Their deadly combination wreaks havoc on any schoolmaster unwise enough to set himself in opposition to them. The stories trace their many pranks at school including playing with dead cats, brewing beer and smoking like a chimney. These books are typical Kipling works which involves a collection of interconnected stories with a verse of two peppered in between.
Kipling is taken up completely by Stalky whom he describes to be “in black tights and doublet, a black silk half-mask on his forehead, whistling lazily where he lay on top of the piano” compared to the nearsighted Beetle.
At the end of the stories all the mischief and the pranks enable them to be the person they are, patriotic and able to defend the empire far and wide. At the end of their youth they assemble at the castle of a friend who inherits the title to reminisce and drink to their amazing peers who serve in the army.
Kipling's stories may shock many today especially with the over dose of empire praising. It also borders on Antisemitism and racism with the natives almost relegated inferior. But one has to keep the time and philosophies of the time and judge his books. Stalky and Co may not be compared to other boarding school sagas like “Tom Brown School Days” but has a charm on its own.

The Second Jungle Book (Published in 1895) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like 'White Mans Burden' are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
The Second Jungle Book is a sequel to the Jungle Book and features five stories of Mowgli and three unrelated stories. Kipling has set all these stories in India, but had written the script in Vermont. In the first Story “How Fear Came” all the animals have gathered around the watering hole where Sher Khan the Tiger brags about his ancient right to kill man. Hathi, the chief of elephants tells the story where in ancient times Tha, the king of beast had appointed the tiger as an adjudicator in his absence. That was the time of harmony where all animals were vegetarians. Tiger accidentally kills and runs away and is marked by creeping wines thus getting stripes for his act. Tha gives him the boon of one night when he is never afraid of the hairless beast, man.



The second story is “The Kings Ankus” where Kaa leads Mowgli to a underground lair which is guarded by a cobra. It is a lost city where jewels abound. Mowgli never realizes the worth of other treasures, but takes the bejeweled Ankus against the warnings of the Cobra. When Bagheera informs him that the Ankus is used to hurt elephants, Mowgli casts it away only to be found by a man. It leaves a trail of killings and Mowgli much, chastened takes it back. In Letting in the Jungle, Mowgli takes revenge from the villagers who imprison his adopted mother Messua with the help of Hathi the elephant.
In Red dog, Mowgli is warned by a waylaid wolf, Won-Tella about a marauding pack of Dhole or wild dogs. Mowgli urges his pack to stay and fight. With the help of Kaa he lays a trap for the Dhole and leads them to the terrible hives. The Dhole are decimated, but Akela, the wolf chief is mortally wounded. In his dying words, he urges Mowgli to seek his kind as he has paid his debt to his adopted wolf family.
The Spring Running is the last of the Mowgli stories. As a seventeen year old Mowgli feels the first awakening of attraction in him. He meets his mother Messua who now is a widow with a small son. On his visit he cannot keeps his eyes off a pretty girl. Bagheera tells him to listen to his instincts and ask him to return to his world. Mowgli leaves his pack to lead a human life.
The other stories involve "The miracle of Puran Bhagat", a politician turned holy man who saves the village from a landslide with the help of animals and “the Undertakers” which is a story of a crocodile, a stork and a jackal with their struggles against man. The last story is Quiqern, which is a nice break from the tropical jungle and takes place in an arctic jungle. Here the a young Inuit, Kotuko along with a girl companion follow a spirit called Quiqern. They need to find a seal and food supplies or their tribe is doomed. As Kotuko travels he finds that the spirit is really two live dogs leading them to the seal. Kotuko accomplishes his mission of getting food for his people.
The second Jungle book is more intense and more adventurous than the first one. It has more things to grab the attention of even the vicious Internet game fanatic. I am not ten anymore, but the tales and lores of Kipling's jungle gives me goose pimples even now. Just read it with your children and leave them in your debt forever. If not read it alone to be transported to a magical kingdom of the man cub and his friends. These tales never age, right?

Kim (Published in 1901) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often cited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Literature, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Kim is one of the classics of the twentieth century and all of Kipling's angst is thrown in to the story of an orphan who reaches self awareness. Kim is Kimball O'Hara, son of a Irish soldier and a poor white mother whose is destined to grow up as a vagabond on the streets of Lahore. He is the poorest of the poor, a waif fending for himself and Kipling himself writes that he looks like any other Indian urchin. All the sense of whiteness in him is obscured by the indian-ness of the environment.



But Kim is street smart, savvy and courageous with an inquisitive and intelligent mind. He works for Mahbub Ali who really is a British spy in Lahore. Kim befriends a Tibetan Monk, Teshoo Lama who reaches Lahore looking for Buddhist Relics. He is looking for the River of Arrow supposed to have sprung from the arrow of Buddha and can cleanse all the sins. Kim is fascinated by the Lama and agrees to become his Chela or disciple. So the wanderings of Kim begin and they reach Benares and the foothills of the Himalaya's in search of the river. Kim is captured by a group of British Soldiers whose flag depicts a Red Bull on a green field. This fulfills the prophesy ringing in Kim's mind about “nine-hundred first-class devils, whose God was a Red Bull on a green field”. Anyway, initially thought as spies the chaplains of the regiment ascertain his identity from his papers and tell him that they knew his father. They take it upon themselves to make a white man of him. But Kim hates the sense of superiority and the nastiness present in the British soldiers. His deliverance arrives in the form of Colonel Creighton who befriends him and takes him under his wings for training as a spy. Soon Kim is above all the soldiers and is inducted in to the secret service.
He goes with the Lama, but as an undercover agent to the Himalaya's ostensibly to look for the river of arrow. Here he finds the Russian and other enemy spies plotting against the empire. Here Kim is forced to fight as the Russians try to harm the Lama. In the melee he obtains the secret papers and with the help of the natives manage to rescue themselves to the plains. He and the Lama are nursed to health by a native woman and Kim delivers the papers. Teshoo Lama is aghast about the violent streak innate in him and leaves to seek the ultimate path of renunciation. Kim also ponders his life and becomes of aware of his existence. In the end we find Kim as Kim, not needing any father figure, or mother to stand on his own. He just says “I am Kim” nothing less or more a person.
Kim is Rudyard Kipling's stellar works. His views on Buddhism, imperialism and nuances of native culture come through in this book. He very stoically supports the British way of life and supports her claim of Indian territory. But I feel we see a Kipling who understands native culture and abhors the white man who considers “nine tenth of the earth heathen”. His dislike of strict discipline and intense religious pontification comes through in Kim. A good read anyways.

The Light that Failed (published in 1890) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
This novel was written when Rudyard returned to London after a successful stint in India with the Civil and Military Gazette. It is about a idealistic journalist and painter who looses his eyesight. The female protagonist Maisie is modeled on Florence Gerrard, his sister's fellow boarder for whom Kipling nursed a secret feeling.



Dick Heldar is a painter who is abused by his stepmother and goes wandering in the world taking all good and bad things in his stride. He has nursed a secret feeling for his childhood friend Maisie who is impenetrable as he is and maybe less talented. But she gives her whole and soul for her work. Dick meets Torpenshaw who is a special correspondent with a news syndicate. He is employed to cover the Sudan expedition for a pittance. He leaves anyway and survives the assignment with serious eye injuries.
Dick and Torpenshaw return to London and eke out a living by selling portraits. Dick soon realizes that his eye sight is soon fading and wants to draw an ultimate masterpiece. So he starts on “Melancholia” which is "the likeness of of a woman who had known all the sorrow in the world and was laughing at it”. He is also frustrated by his pursuit of Maisie who does not return his love.
Soon he starts his painting with Bessie, a waif whom Torpenshaw has befriended. But he drives Bessie to hysteria with his harsh ways to get the expressions right. Dick manages to finish his masterpiece in-spite of his bad eyes. He invites Maisie to view his masterpiece, but Bessie out of revenge blots out the painting. Maisie tries to keep the ruining a secret, but Bessie informs him anyway. A distraught Dick travels back to Sudan and insists on covering the war. Torpenshaw mounts him on a horse out of pity and he rides out only to be shot.
A melancholy novel which is very unlike Rudyard Kipling's upbeat style. But it shows his real life experiences in his school and foster parents in London. But Dick Heldar's motto in life to take triumph and disaster with equanimity reflects Kipling's philosophy too.

The Jungle book (published in 1894) - A collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanists. But as an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Jungle book is a collection of seven stories featuring anthropomorphic animals and humans in a very Indian setting. These stories may have morals and symbolism but the foremost idea is to entertain and thus equating them with the Aesop fables are futile. This book has gone in to the public domain and are a part of the Project Gutenberg for viewing.



For me the first mention of Jungle book brings to mind the cherished memory of Mowgli the man cub brought up by the wolves. Mowgli is found by a she-wolf who nurses the baby along with her cubs. He grows up with the pack along with friends like Bagheera, the panther and Baloo, the Bear and Kaa, the python. He has his wolf brothers and the leader of the pack Akela to fight for him. This story chronicles the life of Mowgli and his fight with his arch enemy, Sher Khan, the Tiger. Devious devices and petty jealousies drive Mowgli to the human settlement where he is taken care of by Messua and her husband. But Mowgli can never be away from the jungle and he comes back. He kills Sher Khan, reunites with his brothers and joins the pack as a full fledged contributing member. The chronicles of Mowgli is told through 3 stories namely, “Mowgli's Brothers”, “Kaa's Hunting” and “Tiger, Tiger”. Another unique feature of Kipling's jungle book is that each story is followed by a series of couplets which may be parodies or just sing along verses.
Followed by Mowgli's three tales, Kipling presents “White Seal” where the readers are taken to the frigid climes of the Bering sea where seals are hunted indiscriminately. He tells the story of Kottick a furry white seal who takes upon himself to lead his family to a safe haven with out hunters. In “Toomai of the elephants” Rudyard Kipling tells about a boy who wants to be an elephant handler and is informed about the myth of the Elephant dance. A magical night with the elephants gets Toomai his night to remember and the reader a tale never to forget. Then comes the “Servants of the Queen” where a British officer eavesdrop the conversation between the camp animals in the night gaining more insights about his own life and his friends.
Btu my favorite is “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, the story of a spunky mongoose who is adopted by a genteel Anglican family. He protects the family against the vicious cobra's Nag and Nagina. The effervescent tale about the snakes, their family, their children and Rikki's friends Darzee the bird all come together in a memorable way.
All these charming stories may enthrall children, but these are for adults too, because adults are the ones who need more humanism in their life. Where can you learn to be a better human but from our diverse animal life.

The Phantom Rickshaw and other Eerie Tales (Published in 1888) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But a s an youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
This book brings together the four widely appreciated short stories of Rudyard Kipling. These deal with the supernatural beings who haunt the real world because of their unrequited passion. The exotic, powerful and extravagant descriptions of the places, passions and people brings goose-pimples to the reader. These stories may not scare you like many other horror tales, but the eerie feeling it brings cannot be taken away.



The first story is about a Phantom Rickshaw. Jack repudiates the love of Mrs Wessington after a brief affair and gets engaged to the young Kitty Mannerling. Mrs Wessington continue to plead with him to come back to her and he spurns her. Eventually to his relief she dies with a broken heart. Soon Jack sees phantoms bearing her on her old rickshaw towards him and these visions drive him mad. His engagement is broken and he is wanders as a lunatic still pursued by the ghost.
The second story is “My Own True Ghost Story” in which the narrator comes across the ghost of a billiard playing ghost of an engineer in a dak bunglow in Katmal.
The third story is “The Strange Ride of Morowbie Jukes” which tells the story of Englishman Morowbie Jukes who gets trapped in a lepers colony while pursuing the dogs. He cannot escape from the colony as it is surrounded by quick sand with a lone snipper picking out escapees across the river. He is taken care of Gunga Dass who is a ruthless Brahmin trapped like him. He gets a note from an Englishman's corpse giving the means to escape the quicksand. Jukes an Gunga Dass plan to escape under the cover of the dark. But Gunga Dass who has murdered the Englishman strikes Jukes and escapes alone. But Jukes wakes up to find himself safe with a boy who rescued him making the experience very surreal.
The last story is "The Man Who could be King” and is one of most famous story of the lot. The narrator helps two fortune seekers Dravot and Carnahan to find the map to Kafiristan, where they plan to be king. Later he meets Carnahan who tells him about their violent adventure of ambition, riches, power and horror where Dravot is killed. Carnahan is carrying his head with the crown and ultimately dies a lunatic.
Scary, fascinating narrative which keeps you looking behind your back.