What do you think?
Rate this book
The Portable Kipling
The Portable Kipling contains selections from The Jungle Books and Soldiers Three; more than twenty stories, including "The Man Who Would Be King," "The Cat that Walked by Himself," "The Eye of Allah," and the unsettling "Mary Postgate"; more than fifty poems; and three essays. The volume also includes a complete chronology and a critical introduction by Irving Howe that permits us to see the formal achievements of Kipling's work as well as to enjoy its abundant pleasures—not least of which is the sheer satisfaction of great storytelling.
687 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 1982
4 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,151 books3,671 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."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 3, 2013
I never realized the breadth and depth of of Kipling's imagination. Forget his parenting skills, his prejudices, his imperialism—the man can write.
September 29, 2022
I do love Rudyard Kipling's writing, but I found this book difficult to get through. It took me a year to read little by little through all of the short stories and poems and essays, because I didn't enjoy most of them.
Most of the time the setting of the stories were so entirely foreign to me that I had a hard time understanding what was going on. There are so many references to historical things and cultural ideas in India that are not explained. The author assumes that the reader already knows about these things, and so it is not clear to a modern reader what is happening. Unless you know the entire history of the British occupation of India and every battle and political upset from the 1800s, you will likely be lost.
I guess Kipling was writing for a very particular set of people- British soldiers and statesmen who had lived or visited India. They have their own lingo and slang for things, and if you don't know the unique words they used, then their dialogue is difficult to follow.
I wish the footnotes did a better job of explaining these things. There are some footnotes, but not nearly enough.
Another reason why I did not enjoy most of the stories is that many of them are depressing, dealing with death and illness. The way Kipling approaches the subject of death is very dry and stark. There is not much hopefulness in the mood of the stories. It's just despairing and sad.
I liked the poems a little better, many of which talk about Picts and Romans from ancient times. But a lot of the poems were written from the perspective of dead soldiers, so that was also depressing. The essays were mostly forgettable.
Overall, I think I will stick to the "Jungle Books" and novels like "Kim" and "Captains Courageous", which are definitely his best works. I don't particularly recommend his short stories.
Most of the time the setting of the stories were so entirely foreign to me that I had a hard time understanding what was going on. There are so many references to historical things and cultural ideas in India that are not explained. The author assumes that the reader already knows about these things, and so it is not clear to a modern reader what is happening. Unless you know the entire history of the British occupation of India and every battle and political upset from the 1800s, you will likely be lost.
I guess Kipling was writing for a very particular set of people- British soldiers and statesmen who had lived or visited India. They have their own lingo and slang for things, and if you don't know the unique words they used, then their dialogue is difficult to follow.
I wish the footnotes did a better job of explaining these things. There are some footnotes, but not nearly enough.
Another reason why I did not enjoy most of the stories is that many of them are depressing, dealing with death and illness. The way Kipling approaches the subject of death is very dry and stark. There is not much hopefulness in the mood of the stories. It's just despairing and sad.
I liked the poems a little better, many of which talk about Picts and Romans from ancient times. But a lot of the poems were written from the perspective of dead soldiers, so that was also depressing. The essays were mostly forgettable.
Overall, I think I will stick to the "Jungle Books" and novels like "Kim" and "Captains Courageous", which are definitely his best works. I don't particularly recommend his short stories.
September 6, 2017
One of the Greats
Read anything by Kippling. He was the first to make poetry interesting for me in my early teens. The stories exposed me to a history and culture that was largely inaccessible otherwise, illustrating how to put oneself in another's shoes. There are moral lessons and insights throughout his entertaining work, from humor to drama.
I can still quote elements of his poetry after 50 years, such as his rejection of racism, nationalism, and class:
"There is neither breed, nor border, nor birth, When two strong men stand face to face,
Though they come from the ends of the earth."
Thinking on this in the context of the poem, one understands that "strong" refers to integrity and courage, and that age and gender are irrelevant to these as well.
Or . . .
"Tho' I've belted you and flayed you,
By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!”
Read anything by Kippling. He was the first to make poetry interesting for me in my early teens. The stories exposed me to a history and culture that was largely inaccessible otherwise, illustrating how to put oneself in another's shoes. There are moral lessons and insights throughout his entertaining work, from humor to drama.
I can still quote elements of his poetry after 50 years, such as his rejection of racism, nationalism, and class:
"There is neither breed, nor border, nor birth, When two strong men stand face to face,
Though they come from the ends of the earth."
Thinking on this in the context of the poem, one understands that "strong" refers to integrity and courage, and that age and gender are irrelevant to these as well.
Or . . .
"Tho' I've belted you and flayed you,
By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!”
November 12, 2021
Maybe we should retire Kipling. Most of his writing is really racist, sexist, and imperialist (See "The White Man's Burden" in this collection.) All about putting natives in their place. I hadn't read anything by him before and I didn't find a single thing I enjoyed- except for his interview with Mark Twain, and that was because Twain is witty throughout.
I just don't think he is relevant at this point.
I just don't think he is relevant at this point.
February 23, 2007
So portable...so Kipling.
Read
July 28, 2007gfhqjqjeq
February 1, 2009
I love Viking Portable Editions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews