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The Bridge-Builders
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48 pages, ebook
First published September 29, 2011
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,893 books3,899 followersJoseph 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 21, 2018
Brilliant!!
It is not so common to find stories with the participation of Indian mythology. At least the most popular literature emphasizes the Norse myths, Greeks and long-bearded magicians holding a staff of power.
The tales of the 19th century several times have a different approach: many of them speak of folkloric beings from different european regions, Russian, Scottish, North American, African, Asian and even South American villages.
The old Marlins-style magician gives way to the adventurer of magic, occultism, and spiritualism. In this story of Kipling it is the Indian gurus and the Gods of India that emerge in a crazy pantomime.
And a debate is open, a dialogue that brings in itself the title theme of this story: The Bridge Builders. Kipling brilliantly transposes the reality - the construction of a physical bridge that crosses the Ganges river - to others bridge builders- a discussion from the Indian gods about the relationship between theirselves and humanity. Each god with a specific opinion about mankind: from mere grains of dust to devotees to be understood.
Parallel to it there are two people who think to hear the conversation of the gods (were they awake or under opium hallucination?)
For them there are other questions: their own survival, conventional life and the dichotomy between the sage and the guru: where faith and wisdom often combine or repel each other according to the experience of each individual.
It is not so common to find stories with the participation of Indian mythology. At least the most popular literature emphasizes the Norse myths, Greeks and long-bearded magicians holding a staff of power.
The tales of the 19th century several times have a different approach: many of them speak of folkloric beings from different european regions, Russian, Scottish, North American, African, Asian and even South American villages.
The old Marlins-style magician gives way to the adventurer of magic, occultism, and spiritualism. In this story of Kipling it is the Indian gurus and the Gods of India that emerge in a crazy pantomime.
And a debate is open, a dialogue that brings in itself the title theme of this story: The Bridge Builders. Kipling brilliantly transposes the reality - the construction of a physical bridge that crosses the Ganges river - to others bridge builders- a discussion from the Indian gods about the relationship between theirselves and humanity. Each god with a specific opinion about mankind: from mere grains of dust to devotees to be understood.
Parallel to it there are two people who think to hear the conversation of the gods (were they awake or under opium hallucination?)
For them there are other questions: their own survival, conventional life and the dichotomy between the sage and the guru: where faith and wisdom often combine or repel each other according to the experience of each individual.
Want to Read
July 25, 2020Huit nouvelles:
Les Bâtisseurs de ponts ****
Petit Tobrah
Namgay Doola
En Famine
Au Fond de l'impasse
Les Finances des dieux
La Cité des songes
Les Bâtisseurs de ponts ****
Petit Tobrah
Namgay Doola
En Famine
Au Fond de l'impasse
Les Finances des dieux
La Cité des songes
July 2, 2016
This is a beautifully written story. It starts out with a technical account of the building of a bridge, then evocatively describes the coming of a terrible flood, and ends with a fever dream marked by vivid imagery and sophisticated debate. Read it on a rainy night.
October 16, 2026
reading the first half of this story was felt like trying to peel my eyelashes off one by one. I DGAF about finslaysosn. the second half was better, peroo mvp
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September 22, 2026I don't log short stories on this app but this one was so boring that getting through it was like reading a 450 page novel
March 8, 2017
An opium dream?
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Bridge Builders (Kindle Edition)
An excellent metaphor for the British colonization of India. If it was an opium dream, then both men had the same dream of the gods of India.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Bridge Builders (Kindle Edition)
An excellent metaphor for the British colonization of India. If it was an opium dream, then both men had the same dream of the gods of India.
December 6, 2018
“I was troubled for my boats and sheers before the flood came. Now we are in the hands of the Gods."
October 27, 2026
... Судьба индийских богов предрешена. Именно это должен был понять читатель. Не сумев возвести долговременные строения, они сами обречены на забвение. Что отличает их от англичан, возводящих крепкие постройки на века. Но согласится ли с подобными суждениями читатель? Особенно читатель из Индии? Да и Киплинг на том не настаивал, специально прибегнув к одурманивающим веществам, под воздействием которых оказались действующие лица. Мало ли какие им могли привидеться обстоятельства, когда они в страхе узрели рядом с собою диких животных, от которых сами скрылись в лодке, и их отнесло на островок, где они замёрзли и отогревались доступными им средствами, в том числе и в виде одурманивающих веществ.
Но были ли боги Индии таковыми, как их показал Киплинг? Они скорее не приняли и не осознали значения возведённого моста, приняв его за нечто сиюминутное, всё равно подверженное разрушению, пусть и не настолько зримому. Всё прочее действующие лица сами себе надумали, в том числе и беседу богов.
(c) Trounin
Но были ли боги Индии таковыми, как их показал Киплинг? Они скорее не приняли и не осознали значения возведённого моста, приняв его за нечто сиюминутное, всё равно подверженное разрушению, пусть и не настолько зримому. Всё прочее действующие лица сами себе надумали, в том числе и беседу богов.
(c) Trounin
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October 20, 2026The short story, of course, is written by a white man for the white men. The central bridge which stands the outroar of mother Ganges is a metaphor of West triumphing over the East.
Very interestingly, it sort of brings a conversation between the master sahib accompanied by a Laskar who meet the gods and demi-gods of India. The fauna based gods stands quite literally complaining about the loss of livelihood encountered and challenged by the sahib. However, I am unsure if it is intentional of Kipling to show the sunk costs of environmental damage that usually accompanied the colonial built environments.
Minor descriptions of how natives persisted the outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and smallpox (with special cameo from Sitala Ma in the story) definitely gained my interest.
Very interestingly, it sort of brings a conversation between the master sahib accompanied by a Laskar who meet the gods and demi-gods of India. The fauna based gods stands quite literally complaining about the loss of livelihood encountered and challenged by the sahib. However, I am unsure if it is intentional of Kipling to show the sunk costs of environmental damage that usually accompanied the colonial built environments.
Minor descriptions of how natives persisted the outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and smallpox (with special cameo from Sitala Ma in the story) definitely gained my interest.
August 15, 2018
The story begins by a construction of a bridge. It was rather beautifully written and described. The story morphs into Indian Mythology. It was kind of hard to follow in parts.
May 21, 2023
Bastante aburrido
January 29, 2011
His technical knowledge and descriptions were pretty amazing. I just got lost toward the end and wondered what it meant at the very end. I looked it up, I was very very close. But, all of the Indian religion references were trying (and somewhat confusing)to me.
August 3, 2011
Well-written, atmospheric story about bridge engineers in India. Towards the end, it becomes rather crazy when the main character (and Kipling too?) takes an opium trip into Indian mythology, which unfortunately spoiled a promising story for me. Traces of Jungle Book are quite prevalent throughout.
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August 13, 2020The lions! Lions? Yes lions!!! And I thought I had it bad
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews