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Maugham's Choice of Kipling's Best
16 Stories
- GenresShort StoriesClassics
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1917
12 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,094 books3,661 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 4, 2014
If you can find this book in the public library, by all means check it out immediately.
Rudyard Kipling wrote hundreds of short stories in his career, but legendary author Somerset Maugham narrows the field down to less than twenty of the absolute greatest short stories Kipling ever wrote.
My favorites are the stories "Love O'Women" and "On Greenhow Hill" from the SOLDIERS THREE collection, but there are some great early stories here too, like "The Phantom Rickshaw" and "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes."
Kipling was able to write "from the inside" about every type of social class and personality, from Hindu beggars to English ladies to veteran soldiers of the British army. He's a much better writer than anyone today seems to remember, but if you check out this amazing book you will see why he was once the most celebrated author in the world!
Rudyard Kipling wrote hundreds of short stories in his career, but legendary author Somerset Maugham narrows the field down to less than twenty of the absolute greatest short stories Kipling ever wrote.
My favorites are the stories "Love O'Women" and "On Greenhow Hill" from the SOLDIERS THREE collection, but there are some great early stories here too, like "The Phantom Rickshaw" and "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes."
Kipling was able to write "from the inside" about every type of social class and personality, from Hindu beggars to English ladies to veteran soldiers of the British army. He's a much better writer than anyone today seems to remember, but if you check out this amazing book you will see why he was once the most celebrated author in the world!
July 4, 2018
Sixteen favorite stories by Rudyard Kipling, selected by W Somerset Maugham. I’m reading this in sections. These stories are from a different time and a different place. The Raj. They are written with a keen eye. Good stuff.
December 25, 2012
Muy cansado, largo y a veces aburrido. Pocas veces he sufrido tanto un libro que, en teoría, estoy leyendo por placer. Por supuesto Kipling es un gran narrador, pero en la mayoría de los cuentos no pasa nada, sobre todo los primeros. El que da título al libro me parece una historia extraordinaria, pero después tenemos varios cuentos basados en aventuras del ejército inglés en la India, y es entonces que en vez de ser historias fascinantes se convierten en el relato de un relato, con lugares, datos, nombres y sucesos que no logran interesar y que se desvían de la historia principal. Al final, ni la trama del cuento ni la historia que se relata en él resultan. Sí, hay varios buenos, sobre todo los últimos, pero en general fue un alivio terminarlo.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews