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Elective English—IV

Notes Burne-Jones, Sir Edward Poynter, Alfred Baldwin, and John Lockwood Kipling himself. His
literary career began with Departmental Ditties (1886), but subsequently he became chiefly
known as a writer of short stories. Kipling was the recipient of many honorary degrees and
other awards. In 1926 he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Literature, which only
Scott, Meredith, and Hardy had been awarded before him.
Before a midnight breaks in storm written by Stephen Leacock was first published as the Dedication
to The Five Nation (1903).

In this unit we will study more about Rudyard Kipling and Before a Midnight breaks in Storm.

8.1 About Joseph Rudyard Kipling

Figure 8.1: Rudyard Kipling

Source: http://www.biography.com/imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/K/Rudyard-
Kipling-9365581-1-402.jpg
Joseph Rudyard Kipling (December 1865 – 18 January 1936) was an English short-story writer,
novelist and poet. He is chiefly remembered for his tales and poems of life in British India and
his tales for children. Kipling enjoyed early success with his poems but soon became known as
a masterful short story writer for his portrayals of the people, history, and culture of his times.
He was born in Bombay, in the Bombay Presidency of British India, and was taken by his family
to England when he was five years old. Kipling is best known for his works of fiction,
including The Jungle Book (a collection of stories which includes “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”), Just So
Stories (1902), Kim (1901) (a tale of adventure), many short stories, including “The Man Who
Would Be King” (1888); and his poems, including “Mandalay” (1890), “Gunga Din” (1890), “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 enduring classics of children’s literature; and his best
works are said to exhibit “a versatile and luminous narrative gift”.
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in England, 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, he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive
the prize, and to date he remains its youngest recipient. Among other honours, he was sounded
out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, all of which he
declined.

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