Rudyard Kipling

Lore & Background

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, British India, to parents who had met and courted in Rudyard, Staffordshire, England, and named their first child after that location. His father was a sculptor and professor of architectural sculpture at the Sir J. J. School of Art, and his mother was one of the four noted MacDonald sisters, described as a vivacious woman. Kipling spent his earliest years in Bombay, where he was cared for by an Indian ayah and a Hindu bearer, and he later recalled thinking and dreaming in the vernacular before being told to speak English. At age five, he and his sister were sent to Southsea, England, to board with a couple; Kipling later described the six years there as a period of cruelty and neglect, calling the house "the House of Desolation." His works of fiction include the Jungle Book duology, *Kim*, the *Just So Stories*, and the short story "The Man Who Would Be King." His poems include "Mandalay," "Gunga Din," "The Gods of the Copybook Headings," "The White Man's Burden," and "If—." He is recognized as an innovator in the short story form, and his children's books are considered classics, noted for a versatile and luminous narrative gift. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he was among the United Kingdom's most popular writers. In 1907, he became the first English-language recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature and, at age 41, its youngest recipient to date. He declined both the British Poet Laureateship and several offers of a knighthood. After his death in 1936, his ashes were interred at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. His subsequent reputation has changed with political and social climate; as the age of European empires receded, he came to be seen as an incomparable, if controversial, interpreter of how empire was experienced, and his narrative gifts ensure his work remains a force to be reckoned with.

Reader's Guide

Kipling’s reputation has shifted with political and social climate. Henry James called him ‘the most complete man of genius’ he had ever known. Kipling is seen as an innovator in the short story form, and his children’s books are considered classics, praised for a ‘versatile and luminous narrative gift.’ His work remains a force to be reckoned with, both for its narrative power and its complex engagement with imperial themes.

Born in Bombay, Kipling was deeply shaped by his early years in British India, where he was cared for by Indian servants who told him stories and nursery songs, and where he thought and dreamed in the local vernacular before being instructed to speak English. At age five, he and his sister were sent to England, where they lived for six years with a couple in Southsea; Kipling later recalled this period as one of calculated cruelty and neglect. His parents had named him after Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, where they courted. His mother was one of the noted MacDonald sisters, and his father was a sculptor and professor at the Sir J. J. School of Art. Kipling’s fiction includes the Jungle Book duology, *Kim*, the *Just So Stories*, and many short stories such as “The Man Who Would Be King.” His poems include “Mandalay,” “Gunga Din,” “The White Man’s Burden,” and “If—.” In 1907 he became the first English-language recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature and, at age 41, its youngest to date. He declined both the British Poet Laureateship and several offers of knighthood. After his death, his ashes were placed in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey. Literary critic Douglas Kerr has noted that Kipling remains an author who inspires passionate disagreement, recognized as an incomparable, if controversial, interpreter of how empire was experienced, and valued for his extraordinary narrative gifts.

Did You Know?

• Kipling was named after Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, where his parents had courted.
• At age five, he and his sister were sent to Southsea, England, where they lived with a couple for six years.
• Kipling called his stay in Southsea 'the House of Desolation' and described it as 'calculated torture'.
• He credited that experience with fostering his literary efforts.
• Henry James called Kipling 'the most complete man of genius' he had ever known.

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