Rudyard Kipling

Biography

Rudyard Kipling was born on December 30, 1865, in Bombay (now Mumbai), British India, where his father, John Lockwood Kipling, was a professor of architectural sculpture at the Jeejeebhoy School of Art, and his mother, Alice Macdonald, came from an Anglo-Indian family. Kipling’s birth in India, and the influence of his father's work, played a crucial role in shaping his future works.

At the age of six, Kipling and his sister were sent to England to live with foster parents, a traumatic experience that left a lasting impact on him. The Kipling children were separated from their biological parents for several years, and Kipling later wrote about the feeling of abandonment in his semi-autobiographical work The Light That Failed.

Education and Early Influences

Kipling’s education in England was not particularly stable. He attended several schools, but his most significant period of schooling was at the United Services College, a military school in Westward Ho! His years there were marked by feelings of isolation, and he was often the subject of bullying. However, this experience would also shape his understanding of character and the themes of imperialism and duty that he would explore in his later works.

Kipling was a precocious child with a voracious appetite for reading and writing. He began composing poetry at a young age and showed a deep interest in the colonial world, influenced by his early experiences in India and his interactions with English expatriates. After completing his education, Kipling returned to India in 1882 as a journalist for the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore.

Career Beginnings

Kipling’s early career as a journalist was highly successful. He was appointed as a reporter for the Civil and Military Gazette, a newspaper in British India. This work allowed him to travel around the country and observe British colonial life from a unique perspective. His vivid depictions of life in India, as well as his keen observations of the British Empire, would later become important themes in his literary works.

During this period, Kipling began to write short stories and poems that captured the imagination of both British and Indian audiences. His first collection, Plain Tales from the Hills (1888), was a success and introduced his trademark style: a blend of humor, keen insight, and a focus on British colonial life.

The Works of Rudyard Kipling

Kipling’s literary career spanned several genres, including poetry, short stories, novels, and children's literature. His work was heavily influenced by his experiences in India, and many of his most famous works reflect the colonial context of the British Empire.

"The Jungle Book" (1894): Perhaps Kipling’s most famous work, The Jungle Book is a collection of stories about a young boy named Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the jungles of India. The stories are rich in themes of survival, moral lessons, and the relationship between humanity and nature. 

The work has been widely adapted for stage, film, and television.

"Kim" (1901): This novel, set in British India, is often regarded as Kipling’s masterpiece. It tells the story of an orphaned boy, Kimball O'Hara, who becomes involved in espionage for the British secret service. The novel is a rich exploration of colonial India and the intersection of British and Indian cultures.

Poetry: Kipling’s poetry is also highly regarded, with works like If— (1895) and Gunga Din (1890) becoming iconic pieces of literature. It— is particularly admired for its stoic message of resilience, self-discipline, and moral integrity. Gunga Din is a tribute to the bravery and selflessness of an Indian water-bearer who saves the life of a British soldier, symbolizing Kipling’s recognition of the contributions of colonized peoples, even as he often reinforced imperial attitudes.

Short Stories: Kipling wrote hundreds of short stories, many of which focused on the lives of British soldiers, civil servants, and expatriates in India. His Barrack-Room Ballads (1892), a collection of poems about soldiers’ lives, and The Man Who Would Be King (1888), a tale of two British adventurers in colonial India, are examples of his engaging storytelling.

Later Life and Recognition

Kipling’s later life was marked by both personal tragedy and continued success. In 1892, he married Caroline Balestier, an American, and they had three children together. Tragically, their son, John, died in 1915 during World War I. The loss of his son deeply affected Kipling, and he became a vocal supporter of the British war effort.

In the early 1900s, Kipling’s health began to decline, but his literary reputation continued to rise. In 1907, Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the youngest-ever recipient at the time (he was 42). The Nobel Committee praised his "power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas, and remarkable talent for narration."

Death and Legacy

Rudyard Kipling died on January 18, 1936, at the age of 70 in London. His death marked the end of an era in British literature, but his works continued to be celebrated for their depth, their adventurous spirit, and their exploration of British imperialism. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in the Poets' Corner, an honor befitting his place in literary history.

Kipling’s legacy is a complicated one. While he is often remembered for his imperialist views, many of his works demonstrate a profound understanding of the complexities of colonialism. His writing has had a lasting influence on literature, and his stories continue to resonate with readers around the world.