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Kipling's Choice: A Moving YA Historical Fiction Novel Based on a Father, Son, and the Battle of WWI
As a young man, Rudyard Kipling was devastated when his military application was rejected because of poor eyesight. Although Rudyard would go on to win England’s highest accolades, he never got over this lost opportunity to serve his country.
When World War I broke out, John, like his father before him, wanted to fight for his country. When his military application was threatened for the same reason as his father’s—poor eyesight—Rudyard took matters into his own hands. Determined not to let history repeat itself, the elder Kipling applied all his influence to get his son a commission.
The teenager who had lived his life in comfort and whose greatest concern had been pleasing his father now faced a much greater challenge—staying alive in his first battle.
Geert Spillebeen’s moving fictionalized account follows the true story of John Kipling, a young man whose desire to live up to the family name threatens his very survival. It also draws attention to the senseless suffering and loss of life in this and every war.
When World War I broke out, John, like his father before him, wanted to fight for his country. When his military application was threatened for the same reason as his father’s—poor eyesight—Rudyard took matters into his own hands. Determined not to let history repeat itself, the elder Kipling applied all his influence to get his son a commission.
The teenager who had lived his life in comfort and whose greatest concern had been pleasing his father now faced a much greater challenge—staying alive in his first battle.
Geert Spillebeen’s moving fictionalized account follows the true story of John Kipling, a young man whose desire to live up to the family name threatens his very survival. It also draws attention to the senseless suffering and loss of life in this and every war.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
12 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Geert Spillebeen
9 books1 followerGeert Spillebeen is een Vlaamse journalist, radiopresentator en schrijver.
Geert Spillebeen in de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia
Geert Spillebeen is a Flemish journalist, radio presenter and writer.
Geert Spillebeen in de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia
Geert Spillebeen is a Flemish journalist, radio presenter and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 14, 2018
Rudyard Kipling probably thought his only son John was immortal. The latter's application to serve in the military was threatened by the same physical disability which led to his (Rudyard's) own application being denied when he was a young man: poor eyesight. Not wanting his son to suffer the same ignominy he had suffered before, Rudyard used his influence/connections and so his spectacled son got in as a second lieutenant in the Irish guards, with young Irishmen in his small command.
World War 1 was raging then.
Nowadays, getting exempted from military service during war would be a cause for celebration. Some, in fact, may conceivably prefer to go completely blind than be turned into corned beef in a relentless machine gun fire.
During Rudyard's time, however, a military service for a young man seemed to have been a necessary rite of passage, a badge of honor necessary for social advancement, in the same vein, perhaps, that rich parents nowadays find it "de rigueur" to have their young children acquire knowledgeable proficiency (if not excellence) in arts (piano lessons!) or sports (polo lessons!).
Rudyard was rich. The novel didn't say how he got wealthy but it did mention his fame, connections and the fact that his books for children (Just So Stories, The Jungle Book) were required reading in all English schools at that time. So he must have been the R.K. Rowling of England during the turn of the 20th century.
Father and son were close to each other. John called Rudyard "Daddo" and he was the apple of his father's eyes. John was spoiled, but he was not a brat. Just before he left for the war, Rudyard bought him a new car. After the war is over, he planned to buy his son an even better automobile.
They were both caught up in the frenzy and excitement of war which many then thought would be over quickly with the allies victorious. Rudyard even had a poem published, "For All We Have and Are," which stroke a chord throughout England. Part of it went:
"There is but one task for all,
One life for each to give.
What stands if freedom fall?
Who dies if England live?"
On towards his very first battle John went. He acquitted himself very well, showing exceptional bravery under heavy fire. But he was hit and was mortally wounded. His mouth, jaw and part of his neck almost all gone, blasted away. He was alive, but drifting in and out of consciousness, and some of his men, who were with him at some time, gave himself up for dead. He was left in the battlefield which was later overran by the Germans.
This novel flits between the real events of John's short life and the imaginative reconstruction of what it might have been for him during his last hours of consciousness when he couldn't speak or move anymore. Then he was lost, exact fate uncertain. He was just 18 years old.
After the war his parents, using their money and influence, went everywhere and met everyone in search of their son. But he was never found.
In 1992 inspectors of the War Graves Commission were said to have determined that a body of an unknown lieutenant in the Irish Guards buried at the St. Mary's Dressing Station in Haisnes (near the place John had fallen) was that of John Kipling. But by then Rudyard had long been dead, having passed away in 1936 a broken man.
About a million young British men (boys!) perished in that senseless carnage that was WW 1.
World War 1 was raging then.
Nowadays, getting exempted from military service during war would be a cause for celebration. Some, in fact, may conceivably prefer to go completely blind than be turned into corned beef in a relentless machine gun fire.
During Rudyard's time, however, a military service for a young man seemed to have been a necessary rite of passage, a badge of honor necessary for social advancement, in the same vein, perhaps, that rich parents nowadays find it "de rigueur" to have their young children acquire knowledgeable proficiency (if not excellence) in arts (piano lessons!) or sports (polo lessons!).
Rudyard was rich. The novel didn't say how he got wealthy but it did mention his fame, connections and the fact that his books for children (Just So Stories, The Jungle Book) were required reading in all English schools at that time. So he must have been the R.K. Rowling of England during the turn of the 20th century.
Father and son were close to each other. John called Rudyard "Daddo" and he was the apple of his father's eyes. John was spoiled, but he was not a brat. Just before he left for the war, Rudyard bought him a new car. After the war is over, he planned to buy his son an even better automobile.
They were both caught up in the frenzy and excitement of war which many then thought would be over quickly with the allies victorious. Rudyard even had a poem published, "For All We Have and Are," which stroke a chord throughout England. Part of it went:
"There is but one task for all,
One life for each to give.
What stands if freedom fall?
Who dies if England live?"
On towards his very first battle John went. He acquitted himself very well, showing exceptional bravery under heavy fire. But he was hit and was mortally wounded. His mouth, jaw and part of his neck almost all gone, blasted away. He was alive, but drifting in and out of consciousness, and some of his men, who were with him at some time, gave himself up for dead. He was left in the battlefield which was later overran by the Germans.
This novel flits between the real events of John's short life and the imaginative reconstruction of what it might have been for him during his last hours of consciousness when he couldn't speak or move anymore. Then he was lost, exact fate uncertain. He was just 18 years old.
After the war his parents, using their money and influence, went everywhere and met everyone in search of their son. But he was never found.
In 1992 inspectors of the War Graves Commission were said to have determined that a body of an unknown lieutenant in the Irish Guards buried at the St. Mary's Dressing Station in Haisnes (near the place John had fallen) was that of John Kipling. But by then Rudyard had long been dead, having passed away in 1936 a broken man.
About a million young British men (boys!) perished in that senseless carnage that was WW 1.
February 8, 2008
Review: Gr. 7-12
It is 1915 and Rudyard Kipling has high hopes for his seventeen-year-old son, John. Since Kipling could never defend his country in uniform due to poor eyesight, his son certainly will. Unfortunately, John suffers from a similar condition, but Kipling nonetheless uses his influence to get him assigned to the Irish Guards. The story opens in the present tense at the Front in northern France and Lieutenant Kipling is seeing combat for the first time. He is an optimistic and selfless officer, despite his wealth and privileged upbringing. The story on the battlefield is periodically interrupted by flashbacks of John’s experience growing up, which break up what would be a fast-paced story nicely and provide a nice dichotomy of life leading up to the war and life in the thick of it. They also serve the clear purpose of demonstrating the misconceptions of war at that time; that fighting is glorious and preserves the dominant race (the English). John soon becomes fatally wounded and his narrative becomes increasingly incoherent as his life slowly slips away as he lies on the chalky French soil. At this point, Rudyard Kipling’s guilt becomes real and he searches for his son, blaming himself for sending his young son to fight a war about which he knew little. Some descriptions of injuries and artillery fire are graphic. Kipling’s Choice is a powerful, though grim war story that conveys the realization of the consequences of the First World War without being too preachy or bleeding-heart-esque. This fictional account of John Kipling’s fate during WWI also reflects Rudyard Kipling’s eventual disillusionment with imperialism.
*written for gepl staff picks
It is 1915 and Rudyard Kipling has high hopes for his seventeen-year-old son, John. Since Kipling could never defend his country in uniform due to poor eyesight, his son certainly will. Unfortunately, John suffers from a similar condition, but Kipling nonetheless uses his influence to get him assigned to the Irish Guards. The story opens in the present tense at the Front in northern France and Lieutenant Kipling is seeing combat for the first time. He is an optimistic and selfless officer, despite his wealth and privileged upbringing. The story on the battlefield is periodically interrupted by flashbacks of John’s experience growing up, which break up what would be a fast-paced story nicely and provide a nice dichotomy of life leading up to the war and life in the thick of it. They also serve the clear purpose of demonstrating the misconceptions of war at that time; that fighting is glorious and preserves the dominant race (the English). John soon becomes fatally wounded and his narrative becomes increasingly incoherent as his life slowly slips away as he lies on the chalky French soil. At this point, Rudyard Kipling’s guilt becomes real and he searches for his son, blaming himself for sending his young son to fight a war about which he knew little. Some descriptions of injuries and artillery fire are graphic. Kipling’s Choice is a powerful, though grim war story that conveys the realization of the consequences of the First World War without being too preachy or bleeding-heart-esque. This fictional account of John Kipling’s fate during WWI also reflects Rudyard Kipling’s eventual disillusionment with imperialism.
*written for gepl staff picks
July 25, 2012
This is an unusual novel, in that both the plot and much of the text is pre-existing and in fact written by others. If you don't know the events, this book is certainly a good way to acquaint yourself with a cruelly ironic tragedy.
It is not a spoiler to note that the hero, John Kipling, died fast and ugly on his first day of combat during WW1. Almost everything he says or does in this book is culled from correspondence and the historical record, including the writings of his famous father, Rudyard Kipling.
So where's the fiction? Well the author does cut and paste events, artfully calling upon extensive flashbacks to tell the story. (If he did any research on what actually happens when a person is shot in the mouth I don't want to know.) There is not, because there cannot, be any suspense about how the book ends.
It's a powerful and tragic tale, but there should be -more-. I am not sure what. Something to make it leap from a lightly-fictionalized historical account into a true novel. Playwright David Haig has already used this material in a stage play MY BOY JACK (which was then made into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe), and that did make the leap. So it can be done. (Perhaps time travel, to suck John out from 1915 into the future? Oh, but that's been done, you derivative SF writer you.)
It is not a spoiler to note that the hero, John Kipling, died fast and ugly on his first day of combat during WW1. Almost everything he says or does in this book is culled from correspondence and the historical record, including the writings of his famous father, Rudyard Kipling.
So where's the fiction? Well the author does cut and paste events, artfully calling upon extensive flashbacks to tell the story. (If he did any research on what actually happens when a person is shot in the mouth I don't want to know.) There is not, because there cannot, be any suspense about how the book ends.
It's a powerful and tragic tale, but there should be -more-. I am not sure what. Something to make it leap from a lightly-fictionalized historical account into a true novel. Playwright David Haig has already used this material in a stage play MY BOY JACK (which was then made into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe), and that did make the leap. So it can be done. (Perhaps time travel, to suck John out from 1915 into the future? Oh, but that's been done, you derivative SF writer you.)
October 10, 2014
How to write about a book this hard-hitting, a book that thrusts the horror of war right at the reader? In the end I am so glad that I read it -- it makes me realize how little I know about WW I. There are so many aspects to this rather short volume that it makes writing a review difficult for me. I learned more about the jingoistic spirit of the day that represented war as a fabulous venture; indeed WW I was called "the great picnic" because of the perceived ease of victory on the part of the British. In contrast, I learned that in the battle of Loos in northern France, more than 20,000 lost their lives, among them Kipling's son John. Rudyard Kipling famously wrote a poem that at the time was widely memorized and quoted that had the effect of making the population exhilarated about going to war: "For All We Have and Are." After the loss of his son, and after Rudyard questions his push for John to be an officer, he writes a short line that, "If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied." This, to me, sums up the premise of the book: keep us all aware of the personal sacrifices that are part of any physical conflict and maybe, possibly, we will choose the alternative.
This was an outstanding book, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
This was an outstanding book, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
April 20, 2008
One of the most difficult books I have read in a long time, it is the fictionalized account of the lingering death in no man's land.
Kipling had pulled strings to get John into the Irish Guard since he had been refused based on his eyesight. A somewhat frail young man he was not prepared for the trench warfare (can anyone ever be prepared for war?)
The books which deservedly won the Bulletin for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Award makes us realize that war is not glorious nor does it bare fruit! Kipling's grave was never found during Rudyard's life, but may have been discovered later. Kipling probably was racked with guilt over this death and particicapted in the society that maintained the British graves along the front and wrote extensively about the war...he is the author of the oft used quote by anti-war activists -- ."If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied."
"Epitaphs of the Great War."
Kipling had pulled strings to get John into the Irish Guard since he had been refused based on his eyesight. A somewhat frail young man he was not prepared for the trench warfare (can anyone ever be prepared for war?)
The books which deservedly won the Bulletin for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Award makes us realize that war is not glorious nor does it bare fruit! Kipling's grave was never found during Rudyard's life, but may have been discovered later. Kipling probably was racked with guilt over this death and particicapted in the society that maintained the British graves along the front and wrote extensively about the war...he is the author of the oft used quote by anti-war activists -- ."If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied."
"Epitaphs of the Great War."
September 6, 2012
This was a short gut wrenching fictionalized account of Rudyard Kipling's son, his pampered life, his desire to make his father proud, and his violent death on the battlefield. I'm not sure how much I enjoyed the book, but I gave it four stars for it's powerful writing.
December 21, 2016
What a gripping story. Spillebeen really brought out the fine line between patriotism and naivete, as well as the cost of them both. 4 stars because this book is absolutely worth the read (!), but a bit on the depressing side . . .
June 11, 2009
For a 150-page book to illustrate the effects of fervent patriotism and dire loss upon a father to young readers, this book is unmatched.
March 23, 2017
This book is the story of John Kipling, son of the famous Rudyard Kipling, and his service in The Great War. the book goes through his childhood that led to him joining the army and fighting in the war, and it goes through his time in the army and his first battle. I liked the book since it provided lots of interesting background information on the character and it’s interesting to go through their history. My favorite part of the book was the battle of loos, it had some very intense gunfire and explosions that capture a really good view of what real life war is like and that it very little relief from the enemy. The book gripped me because I found it interesting to read about his experience in the army and war and I kept wanting to know what he would do next; even though I knew what would happen in the end since I looked up Rudyard Kipling and found what happened to his son. The thing I disliked about the book is the scenes of him wounded, they were very slow moving and more boring than anything. I also disliked that the battle was really short and there was no scenes of his training; I would love more action in a war novel and some tension would be added to it which I love. I recommend this book to people that love war stories since this is a story about what brought him to join the army.
March 12, 2019
For me there were a lot of pros and cons while reading this books. Some parts of reading it I got really into it, and other times (in a nice way) It got boring. That's probably because the book seemed like it was written for much older people, and I am only a teenager. The book is about a guy who really wants to fight in the war, but when he finds out he isn't able too because of his eyesight, he gets really upset. His father had the same issue and kind of helps him out but since the book takes place so long ago, there isn't nearly as much medicine and doctors as there are today, and his eyesight continuously gets worse. The order of the book was written really well even though at some times it got confusing because it went back in time and went back and forth in perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2017
Rudyard Kipling is an amazing author, so any story about his life is appealing to me. This is a great novel for middle school students, as they can develop empathy for soldiers during each war, and as they realize what parents will do or experience for their children. Reading this novel reminded me of how blessed I am, and how the relationship between a child and parent is so important. To see how much John cared about his family, especially the esteem of his father, was poignant. And for Rudyard to realize that his pushing might have been the cause of his son's demise is a real message for me as a parent.
June 15, 2021
It is great irony that the man who encouraged America to “bind your sons to exile” in the name of “the white man’s burden”/imperialism in 1899, lost his son within 20 years largely due to such conquest. This tragic story clearly demonstrates the blind fervor behind WWI, and the harsh consequences of war. An interesting additional element was the classism within the war which I was not familiar with. An impactful, but not challenging (as far as reading level goes) read makes this book a very worthwhile read. Again, I know I already stated this but I just can’t get over the irony, so I think this is a great book for history buffs.
January 20, 2024
Wow, a sobering historical fiction based on the tragic death in WWI, The Great War, of the only son of the famed author, Rudyard Kipling. We need reminders of the horrors of war, and this book delivers. The storyline bounces back and forth between John Kipling lying, incapacitated, on a battlefield, and scenes from his life as a child, growing up wealthy but still dealing with normal growing up problems.
I’d like to get my students interested in this book. I’ll try using it in a book talk and see what happens.
It’s disturbing that people can be so psyched up to go to war, as they were back then, only thinking of the glory. But then sadly, it serves a purpose. If England and the rest of the world had refused to go to war, would we all be living under debilitating dictatorships? History is full of the results of hostile destructive invasions and conquests. The reason that the U.S. has enjoyed freedom and prosperity (compared to much of the world) is that good men were willing to fight and die.
There will never be world peace until every person on Earth is content and wants peace — and that would be impossible.
I’d like to get my students interested in this book. I’ll try using it in a book talk and see what happens.
It’s disturbing that people can be so psyched up to go to war, as they were back then, only thinking of the glory. But then sadly, it serves a purpose. If England and the rest of the world had refused to go to war, would we all be living under debilitating dictatorships? History is full of the results of hostile destructive invasions and conquests. The reason that the U.S. has enjoyed freedom and prosperity (compared to much of the world) is that good men were willing to fight and die.
There will never be world peace until every person on Earth is content and wants peace — and that would be impossible.
April 27, 2022
This book comes by way of Belgium. It is a fictionalized account of Lt. John Kipling, son of Rudyard Kipling, the author of "Jungle Book", and his short experience fighting in World War I. The story jumps between the horror of the war around him as he lays dying in a battlefield in France and his memories of growing up a very privileged childhood. This one is very easy-to-read and would be suitable for teens in grades 7-10.
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April 9, 2020A heartbreaking account of WWII, nevertheless I recommend this to all young adults. This is a fictionalized account of the true story of John Kipling, 18 year old young man, son of the great Nobel Prize Laureate writer, Rudyard Kipling whose desire was to live up to the family name which threatened his survival.
November 18, 2016
Little medical support in the war made it hard for the soldiers to live long. Most of them would get diseases or get sick.
October 5, 2017
It is good if you like books that are about wars.
March 27, 2018
The flashbacks of the dying solider were so poignant. The fact that John as Rudyard Kipling's son was fascinating.
November 19, 2018
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars because it wasn't the best book I have read. I do recommend this book because it was till a good book to read.
January 20, 2019
Reflective writing couples in current narrative form. Keeps the reader in John's thoughts and experiences. War is ugly but necessary at times. I enjoyed this story.
April 6, 2015
Mac J.
4/6/15
8-1
Kipling’s Choice by Geert Spillenbeen, is a book about John Kipling, Rudyard Kipling’s son. John is an eighteen year old man who is a lieutenant in the army. John experiences a flashback of many key moments of his life after he is severely injured in battle. Family has always been important to John, and he is reminded of it when he thinks back to all the good times he has had with his family.
John experiences many different feelings while he is waiting for death to come upon him, and one of the feelings he experiences is remorse. In a letter to his parents, John writes, “What terrible news about Oscar Hornung!”(Spillenbeen, 49) Johns shows that he is remorseful for others that are close to his family, even though he could very well be dead within hours of writing his letter. Spillenbeen uses many different techniques in his writing. He eludes to many events that will take place, yet he leaves room for surprises. This book is full of information that pertains to what is going on in the present with John, and not just in his past. John also shows feelings of individualism once he leaves his parents, for the first time in his life. On page 38, John’s Father promises to buy him a car so he can go to night clubs and into town. This demonstrates John’s individualism and maturity because his parents trust him with his own car, and that he can take of a car and himself. John will think back to the moment while he is passing because it reminds himself of how he liked to have fun, and be free. Spillenbeen shows that John Kipling was just a boy who wanted to serve his country, and make his family proud. John always did his best to represent his family in a positive way, and he always respected his family. John was a gentleman to everyone, and John could always be counted on to positive and rally his troops. John was well liked by everyone, and was missed by his family dearly. Spillenbeen’s work helps the reader think about people who serve their country today. John’s story was told on paper, but other fallen soldiers may not have been recognized like John is. It is sad to think that not every soldier gets to be appreciated like John was, but that does not mean they are not appreciated.
4/6/15
8-1
Kipling’s Choice by Geert Spillenbeen, is a book about John Kipling, Rudyard Kipling’s son. John is an eighteen year old man who is a lieutenant in the army. John experiences a flashback of many key moments of his life after he is severely injured in battle. Family has always been important to John, and he is reminded of it when he thinks back to all the good times he has had with his family.
John experiences many different feelings while he is waiting for death to come upon him, and one of the feelings he experiences is remorse. In a letter to his parents, John writes, “What terrible news about Oscar Hornung!”(Spillenbeen, 49) Johns shows that he is remorseful for others that are close to his family, even though he could very well be dead within hours of writing his letter. Spillenbeen uses many different techniques in his writing. He eludes to many events that will take place, yet he leaves room for surprises. This book is full of information that pertains to what is going on in the present with John, and not just in his past. John also shows feelings of individualism once he leaves his parents, for the first time in his life. On page 38, John’s Father promises to buy him a car so he can go to night clubs and into town. This demonstrates John’s individualism and maturity because his parents trust him with his own car, and that he can take of a car and himself. John will think back to the moment while he is passing because it reminds himself of how he liked to have fun, and be free. Spillenbeen shows that John Kipling was just a boy who wanted to serve his country, and make his family proud. John always did his best to represent his family in a positive way, and he always respected his family. John was a gentleman to everyone, and John could always be counted on to positive and rally his troops. John was well liked by everyone, and was missed by his family dearly. Spillenbeen’s work helps the reader think about people who serve their country today. John’s story was told on paper, but other fallen soldiers may not have been recognized like John is. It is sad to think that not every soldier gets to be appreciated like John was, but that does not mean they are not appreciated.
March 16, 2015
Kipling's Choice, Geert Spillebeen, Averbode, Belgium, 2002.
I think this -no this is an absolute atrocity of a book. It is so repetitive and uninteresting it was a pain to get through just 160 pages of it. To put it lightly I hated it. This makes me ashamed to be a human bean. This book is the epitome of over repetition and boring everything that every book should use as a model to make sure they do not follow what this author has done. Every other page (Towards middle of book) was Kipling going unconscious, having flash backs becoming conscious and rinse and repeat until 160 pages when he dies. He really after the entire build up of his life- die. Not like a interesting or glorious death, just falls over dead.
This book basically stars off in the middle of combat, Kipling's men are advancing unto the enemies' front very stupidly just a bunch of mucking around, not using basic tactics in any way just being a bunch of idiots. Until one of Kipling's men throws a grenade into a German bunker, killing 25 "Huns". This was the most exciting point in time in the novel. like maybe 30-40 pages in, most interesting part. He then gets shot in the face. From there on, is seen by allies who think he's dead or just don't help, a squad of Irish soldiers who steal his stuff, and finally a medic who goes behind enemy lines to help wounded and get killed himself.
Between these points he constantly goes into and out of consciousness, constantly having flashbacks that describe his ENTIRE LIFE. Its horrid. and then, FINALLY in the end he bleeds out and dies.
See, you'd think I'd be joking, no I am not joking, lying, or even exaggerating one bit- he just falls over and dies.
So, thats it, one of his men kills a couple huns, he gets shot in the face, has a million flashbacks, gets robbed and dies. It's really just a bad book and as I pointed out is ridiculously repetitive. That is all there is to discuss about it, like really you would expect more, but it's just really bad and makes me think those 5 stars are just fake accounts or paid.
I think this -no this is an absolute atrocity of a book. It is so repetitive and uninteresting it was a pain to get through just 160 pages of it. To put it lightly I hated it. This makes me ashamed to be a human bean. This book is the epitome of over repetition and boring everything that every book should use as a model to make sure they do not follow what this author has done. Every other page (Towards middle of book) was Kipling going unconscious, having flash backs becoming conscious and rinse and repeat until 160 pages when he dies. He really after the entire build up of his life- die. Not like a interesting or glorious death, just falls over dead.
This book basically stars off in the middle of combat, Kipling's men are advancing unto the enemies' front very stupidly just a bunch of mucking around, not using basic tactics in any way just being a bunch of idiots. Until one of Kipling's men throws a grenade into a German bunker, killing 25 "Huns". This was the most exciting point in time in the novel. like maybe 30-40 pages in, most interesting part. He then gets shot in the face. From there on, is seen by allies who think he's dead or just don't help, a squad of Irish soldiers who steal his stuff, and finally a medic who goes behind enemy lines to help wounded and get killed himself.
Between these points he constantly goes into and out of consciousness, constantly having flashbacks that describe his ENTIRE LIFE. Its horrid. and then, FINALLY in the end he bleeds out and dies.
See, you'd think I'd be joking, no I am not joking, lying, or even exaggerating one bit- he just falls over and dies.
So, thats it, one of his men kills a couple huns, he gets shot in the face, has a million flashbacks, gets robbed and dies. It's really just a bad book and as I pointed out is ridiculously repetitive. That is all there is to discuss about it, like really you would expect more, but it's just really bad and makes me think those 5 stars are just fake accounts or paid.
September 1, 2009
I haven't been this affected by an anti war book since reading Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo years ago.
John Kipling, son of the Nobel prize winning legend Rudyard Kipling, joined the Irish Guard and, when promoted to Lt., was positioned on the front lines of a bloody battle in Loos France where Germans quickly overtook his men.
The majority of the story is told from the voice of John as he lay dying on the battle field. Unable to move or speak, we enter his mind as he slips in and out of consciousness and flashes back to his life of luxury.
This is the story of two John's -- the rich, pampered dandy juxtapositioned with the harsh reality of the 18 year old bespectacled, small, skinny boy who, in readily accepting his father's mandate that he be a "man", became a casualty of WWI.
Because Rudyard could not have a war career of his own, he pushed his son toward this choice.
The author cleverly shows the harsh reality learned by Kipling that words are powerful and actions have consequences. Prior to the loss of his son, Rudyard had a gung ho mentality, writing and lecturing that war is just against the "barbarians." Believing the sacrifice of life is the highest honor given for a country, Kipling's thoughts and words came back to haunt him when his one and only son is killed.
In the end, by accepting his father's choice that he do what is expected of him, certainly in wartime...for King and Country...the son became one of the 1 million people who died for England and one of the 20 million who died world wide. Rudyard, the father, died years later, a broken man.
Highly recommended.
John Kipling, son of the Nobel prize winning legend Rudyard Kipling, joined the Irish Guard and, when promoted to Lt., was positioned on the front lines of a bloody battle in Loos France where Germans quickly overtook his men.
The majority of the story is told from the voice of John as he lay dying on the battle field. Unable to move or speak, we enter his mind as he slips in and out of consciousness and flashes back to his life of luxury.
This is the story of two John's -- the rich, pampered dandy juxtapositioned with the harsh reality of the 18 year old bespectacled, small, skinny boy who, in readily accepting his father's mandate that he be a "man", became a casualty of WWI.
Because Rudyard could not have a war career of his own, he pushed his son toward this choice.
The author cleverly shows the harsh reality learned by Kipling that words are powerful and actions have consequences. Prior to the loss of his son, Rudyard had a gung ho mentality, writing and lecturing that war is just against the "barbarians." Believing the sacrifice of life is the highest honor given for a country, Kipling's thoughts and words came back to haunt him when his one and only son is killed.
In the end, by accepting his father's choice that he do what is expected of him, certainly in wartime...for King and Country...the son became one of the 1 million people who died for England and one of the 20 million who died world wide. Rudyard, the father, died years later, a broken man.
Highly recommended.
February 16, 2017
It was interesting, but not my favorite book.
December 28, 2010
Belgian author Spillebeen fictionalizes the story of the death of John Kipling, son of Rudyard Kipling, near Loos in France in 1915. Like every other account of World War I that I have read, Kipling's Choice tells of the futility of young men who were to die by the thousands per day as they pushed the front line 50 meters one day, only to lose 100 meters the next. Of course that is the only story to tell about the ill-titled Great War. Rudyard Kipling worked hard to get his slight, severely near-sighted son to be an officer, only to have him perish on the fist day he saw action (which we find out in the first few pages). History, family dynamics, and the sad heart-breaking reality of war come together in this YA novel.
December 7, 2009
Geert Spillebeen’s Kipling’s choise is a detailed account of a 17 year old John Kipling, fighting for the Irish Guard during World War I. Throughout the book John has a series of flashbacks explaining how he got to this point in his life, most of which he is laying wounded on the battlefield. John’s father Rudyard had tried to join the army years before but had been turned down due to his terrible vision. Because of this Rudyard had always wanted his son to be a successful soldier in the army. It began with Johns lavish life style at the training camp then swiftly changed into the grim reality of war for John Kipling.
November 12, 2016
In this book, the main character John Kipling applies to the army. Something his father Rudyard was unable to do, due to his poor eye sight. One thing the author did was create flash forwards throughout the book to Johns death. I enjoyed how the book started out with John getting injured on the battle field. The author describes what it is really like to be out fighting on the battle field. I would rate this book a 3, because of how hard it was to follow. John isn't just any normal teenager, he is the son of the famous poet Rudyard Kipling. After reading this book I thought that some points were too detailed and could become boring.
October 10, 2013
This book is both a painful and precise read for its attention to the detail of Kipling's death. The narrative switches back and forth quickly between the battlefield and the events in Kipling's life before he reaches the front and then between him and his father. It's told with such immediacy that I could not put it down. It left me grief-stricken for both father and son and for the whole generation who fought in the Great War. Spillebeen's mastery of the historical detail is beautiful. This book is a very worthwhile addition to the genre.
January 9, 2017
This book was about a boy who wants to serve his country like his father did he couldn't make it for his military application due to poor eyesight so he took it into his own hands. His father applying all of his influence to have his son fight in World War I. He went from the peace and comfort of home to the struggle of war. Being in the first wave of infantry he faces both life and death. This book is science fiction.
May 20, 2008
I could not put this book down. Beautiful and tragic. I found myself fascinated by the background story of the Kipling's and sought out more information on the internet. I read this from my work library so that I could determine whether or not I should recommend it to some of my young readers. Every single reader has loved it so far. Based on actual events.
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