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Kim

rudyard kipling

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Set after the Second Afghan War which ended in 1881, but before the Third fought in 1919, probably in the period 1893 to 1898. The novel is notable for its detailed portrait of the people, culture, and varied religions of India. The book presents a vivid picture of India, its teeming populations, religions, and superstitions, and the life of the bazaars and the road.Two men - a boy who grows into early manhood and an old ascetic priest, the lama - are at the center of the novel. A quest faces them both. Born in India, Kim is nevertheless white, a sahib. While he wants to play the Great Game of Imperialism, he is also spiritually bound to the lama. His aim, as he moves chameleon-like through the two cultures, is to reconcile these opposing strands, while the lama searches for redemption from the Wheel of Life.A celebration of their friendship in a beautiful but often hostile environment, 'Kim' captures the opulence of India's exotic landscape, overlaid by the uneasy presence of the British Raj.

349 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1,1901
Places
india, british india, lahore, 

This edition

Format
349 pages, Hardcover
Published
January 1, 2002 by AST
ISBN
9785170140305
ASIN
5170140304
Language
Russian
Characters More characters

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About the author

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rudyard kipling

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Joseph 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."

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
34(34%)
4 stars
31(31%)
3 stars
35(35%)
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100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Ooli
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I completed this task early last night and then spent the entire evening reflecting on it. It is truly captivating how the author vividly描绘s life and times in 19th-century colonial India. Kim (Kimball O'Hara) is continuously on the move, encountering various people during his travels. There comes a moment when I became completely engrossed in all that was happening around the young boy. However, instead of getting completely lost in the story, I found myself somewhat detached from it. During the final part of the book, I would stop numerous times and wonder, "Where is this headed? What is going on?"


It is quite evident that the author spent many years in British India, and his writing proficiency and skill with a pen are rather remarkable.


The problem is that I cannot claim it is an outstanding story. All I can state is that it is a story, and a significant portion of it was enjoyable to read.

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softoroki
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This book is an absolute delight and, most importantly, it is not racist. Initially, I was quite concerned that it might contain racist undertones. However, Kipling demonstrates an almost equal level of disdain for every ethnic group. He refers to whites contemptuously as "the creed that lumps nine-tenths of the world under the title of 'heathen'" (88).


I am currently giving it four stars. I'm not entirely sure why, but perhaps it doesn't seem as significant as some of the other books I've been reading lately. However, this could very well change. It is a masterfully crafted adventure novel, and that is no small feat.


If you have the opportunity to find an edition that includes a map, I highly recommend going for it. I, for one, would have greatly appreciated having one. It would have added an extra layer of depth and immersion to the reading experience.
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CharonPluto
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Holy. Hell.

Why did 19th century white guys have such a profound love for writing about India? It's truly a mystery.

YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT IT, GUYS. Their depictions often seemed to lack authenticity and understanding.

It's like me and comedy. Just because I'm passionate about it doesn't mean I should attempt it. (buh dum ch.) Maybe these 19th century writers thought they could capture the essence of India, but in reality, they fell short. Their works might have been influenced by their own biases and limited perspectives.

India is a complex and diverse country with a rich history and culture. To truly understand and represent it accurately requires more than just a passing interest. It demands in-depth research, respect, and an open mind.

Perhaps if these writers had taken the time to immerse themselves in the Indian way of life, they would have been able to produce more meaningful and accurate works.

But as it stands, their attempts to write about India remain a curiosity, a testament to their misplaced enthusiasm.
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thepatman95
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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“Um bom porrete é o melhor argumento.”

“Um ato é como uma pedra lançada em uma lagoa, cria círculos de consequências imprevisíveis.”

Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936), the youngest winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature (1907), was born in India and educated in England. He was the son of English parents, just like Kim O’Hara, the mischievous protagonist of Kipling's last novel, “Kim”. Kipling's personal experience and knowledge of India bring the country and its people to life in this adventure and espionage book.

Kim is a book that is both entertaining and intense. Kipling leaves a great sample of his excellent literature and his extensive knowledge of what happened in India. Borges emphasizes that Kipling “always sought the epic” and it is enough to read Kim to experience the feeling of having known India and its thousands of inhabitants in depth.

Kim is a 13-year-old orphan who wanders the streets of Lahore in British-ruled India. He is known as “the friend of everyone.”

Kim becomes a “chela” or disciple of a lama, a wise Tibetan who comes to the city and is looking for the River of the Arrow, which purifies sins and renews the soul: “this river is of such a nature that whoever bathes in it washes away any stain or speck of sin.”

Kim proposes to the Lama to accompany him in the search for this sacred river because he was also looking for something: a red bull on a green field.

That's where Rudyard Kipling's phenomenal narrative skill comes into play.

In this search for the sacred river, Kim and the lama go through great difficulties and dangers but are also helped by pious people who give them shelter and food. Kim was even recognized by a sergeant who was part of the same regiment as his father and even had his education financed by studying at a Catholic college.

Although he is an orphan, in this epic journey through India, Kim, as already said, will not have only enemies; he will have several “fathers” who will take care of him and teach him, all with a final objective in mind. And Kim does not disappoint. He will be a great spy and messenger of the British Empire, a great trickster and mainly a great companion and helper of the chela.

Will the lama find his river? What would be the great game mentioned several times in the book?

I loved the book. My favorite style, classics with epic adventures.
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PowerMetal
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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It’s truly difficult to surpass the following acclaim for Kipling’s writing from his 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature citation. Many of these qualities can be detected in his outstanding 1901 novel, “Kim”. The citation reads, “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 remains the youngest author to receive this prestigious award. Today, he is more renowned for his captivating short stories such as “Riki Tiki Tavi”, “The Jungle Book”, and “The Man Who Would be King”, as well as for his poetry rather than his novels.


The story, set in India, chronicles the adventures of the orphan boy Kim from the ages of 13 to 17. Although Kipling never explicitly stated it, many reviewers have estimated that it occurs during the early 1890s based on his allusions to the “Great Game”. This was a spy network established by the British government in Northern India to safeguard the country from Russian invasion.


Kipling offers the following wonderful introduction to Kim: “For Kim did nothing with an immense success. True, he knew the wonderful walled city of Lahore from the Delhi Gate to the outer Fort Ditch; was hand in glove with men who led lives stranger than anything Haroun al Raschid dreamed of; and he lived in a life wild as that of the Arabian Nights, but missionaries and secretaries of charitable societies could not see the beauty of it.” Kim embarks on a journey as a chela to a Tibetan lama who desires to free himself from the “Wheel of Things” by seeking the “River of the Arrow”. Simultaneously, he is undergoing the seemingly incompatible training required to become a “chain-man” or spy in the Great Game.


In addition, as Kim grows older, he begins to question his identity. For instance, when he asks himself, “What am I? Mussalman, Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist? That is a hard knot.” However, it is precisely these abilities to blend effortlessly with the diverse cultures and religions he encounters that make Kim both a successful chela and spy. Sadly for me, after finishing the book, I discovered that this was Kipling’s fourth and final novel.

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lemonade
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Wow, Kipling!!

This was a literature read for A and C that we unfortunately didn't get to last school year. So, we decided to pick it up over the summer. After reading the first chapter, I thought we wouldn't be able to make it through. We were all kind of lost.
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airingela
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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That was flipping awesome!

It was truly an amazing experience. I still can't get over how great it was. The excitement and energy were palpable. It felt like everything just came together perfectly.

Rtc. Hopefully. I really hope that there will be more opportunities like this in the future. I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation. I can't wait to see what else is in store. It's going to be another unforgettable adventure, I'm sure of it.
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LisaLisa98
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Kim is my initial adult encounter with a Rudyard Kipling work. I find myself in a bit of a quandary regarding this book. I'm not entirely sure how I truly feel about it; my emotions are somewhat muddled. I don't even attempt to pen an analytical review here because I'm quite clueless about what the story is truly all about. I'm certain there was a narrative, but whatever it was, it failed to seize my attention. Yet, for some reason, I persisted in reading, and that in itself is rather incredible.

The book is a complex mixture. In a relatively short span, it delves into diverse cultures, religions, politics, social attitudes under imperialism, and espionage in the context of the Great Game. These topics were both interesting and informative.

Amidst these multiple themes, Kipling weaves the tale of Kim or Kimball O'Hara - a white orphaned boy who was brought up in the native Indian culture. Exactly what his story entails, I couldn't quite fathom. However, certain parts of his story, presented as separate episodes, managed to hold my interest. To start with, I took a liking to the character of Kim. I relished his relationship with the Lama. Kim's love, devotion, and loyalty to the old Lama were truly admirable. Kim is a clever child, despite leading a vagabond life. And I enjoyed witnessing his progress and development from a carefree child to a responsible youth. That much is quite certain.

But my overall impression of this book remains muddled. The story neither bored me nor fully engaged me, thus creating a dilemma in formulating my overall opinion of the book and determining an appropriate rating. Parts of it I did enjoy, but the rest left me feeling rather indifferent. Nevertheless, to do justice to the depth of the author's thoughts, his accurate portrayal of the diverse themes mentioned here, and to my partial enjoyment, I've settled on a middle rating.

Having said that, I would like to recall Rudyard Kipling as a poet. I did enjoy his Jungle Book as a child. But that was such a long time ago; I don't know how I would feel about it now. All I can assert is that Kipling is a poet at heart and not a novelist. His thoughts are profound, and I appreciate them. But he is a rather poor storyteller. That much I can attest to.
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