L'uomo che volle farsi re e I costruttori di ponti

by Rudyard Kipling, Francesco Binni (Preface), Fabio Macherelli (Translator)

Autentico classico della letteratura d'avventura e al tempo stesso penetrante parabola dell'Impero britannico, L'uomo che volle farsi re narra la storia di una coppia di vagabondi che tentano di costruirsi un regno fra le tribù primitive di una fantastica propagine montagnosa dell'India. In questo racconto, Kipling si rivela scrittore di complessi registri, ora ironico, ora sentimentale, ora compassionevole e amaro, sempre storico acuto e immaginativo dell'India e di quella cultura britannica che tenta tenacemente di modellare a propria immagine.
La stessa cultura presente ne I costruttori di ponti, del 1893, in cui lo scatenarsi di una forza naturale minaccia l'esistenza di un gigantesco ponte, costruito sul Gange durante tre anni di strenuo lavoro.

Genres: Classics, Fiction

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1888

About the author

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.

Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".

Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."

Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."

Reviews

[Gianni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il racconto "I costruttori di ponti" è semplicemente il delirio mistico di un ingegnere drogato, che durante una piena assume dell'oppio che lo porta a dialogare con divinità locali. Gli argomenti sono i più svariati, ma di ponti si parla davvero poco.

[Carlo Trudu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusionario, come la testimonianza del protagonista. Un tuffo nel mondo coloniale inglese dell'800. Non é un libro da cui aspettarsi insegnamenti o messaggi particolari, solo una strana storia di avventurieri inglesi e tribú autoctone. Interessante storicamente se realistico, buono per lo stile.