Rudyard Kipling's Kim offers a rich tapestry of interpretations for diverse readers. I perceive it as a picaresque tale, somewhat evocative of Huckleberry Finn. It's a story of a quest, a journey, and above all, a search for identity by young Kimball O'Hara.

Kim, the son of an absent, alcoholic Anglo-Irish Color Guard father and a deceased mother, becomes a chameleon-like figure. Everyone he meets desires something different from him and attempts to use him for their own advantage. As a result, Kim ponders, "Who is Kim? What am I? Mussalman (Muslim), Hindu, Jain or Buddhist? That is a hard knot."

The novel is set in and around Lahore in today's Pakistan, which was then a northern province of India, the crown jewel of the British Empire. Kim was born in 1865, the same year as Kipling in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Spanning four years, the novel is set after the Sepoy Rebellion, which sent shockwaves through colonial India and the British Empire. It was also a time when the Great Game was at its peak, with Russian influence and territorial expansion逼近 the Indian Frontier.

In many ways, Kim is the prototype of a "spy novel," as well as an imperial coming-of-age story and a book about a young orphan's search for identity. It has even been said to have influenced the British Secret Service.

Kim, a dusky child of the slums, is raised by a woman of dubious reputation. He roams the streets like a ferret, remembering what he sees and gradually learning to decode his experiences.

Kim spends time with various characters, including the Protestant Rev. Bennett, Roman-Catholic Fr. Victor, the Tibetan Buddhist Teshoo Lama, Huree Chunder Mookerjee, Mahbub Ali, Colonel Creighton, and "Lurgan Sahib." He is enlisted to copy documents, make maps, and use a rosary for counting, all while remaining a "friend to all the world."

At some point, Kim encounters a flag that sparks a recognition of his identity. He also has three tokens from his father, including an amulet, a diploma he can't understand, and a masonic document with the inscription "Ne Varietur."

Before becoming a young spy-in-training, Kim was a student in a boys' school for three years. He must reconcile the different forms of learning as he matures, using disguises, languages, knowledge of the Koran, and rudimentary medicine. Mostly, he eavesdrops and relays information to his British superiors.

Despite the fact that some, like Edward Said, see Kim as a book steeped in colonial conceit, I disagree. While Kipling believed in the necessity of Empire and Britain's "civilizing role" in India, he also saw himself as Indian.

The novel is seen through the eyes of a boy who feels himself a child of India, yet realizes that his experiences have given him multiple identities.

Moreover, Mark Twain claimed to read Kim once a year, and T.S. Eliot held the novel in high regard. For me, this collateral testimony is enough to award Kim five stars. So, here's to Mr. Rudyard Kipling!

*My version of Kim has a wonderful introduction and additional notes by Jeffrey Meyers. **For those enthralled by Kim, Peter Hopkirk's Quest For Kim: In Search of Kipling's Great Game is highly recommended. ***The review includes photo images of Rudyard Kipling, a street scene in Lahore, the characters in the novel, a young Kipling meeting Mark Twain, and Kipling's library/den.

It took me *years* to finally read this book.

I blame the edition I have. It's one of those cheap Dell paperbacks produced in the '60s and reprinted dozens of times. The page edges are dyed blue-green, and the tiny print is crammed into narrow lines. It's practically a cure for insomnia. When you get to Kipling's lovingly detailed descriptions, it can be a bit of a slog.

But this time, I was researching India, and I had motivation. Kipling's characterization is brilliant, not just of his young hero. I especially loved the guru who becomes a second father to Kim. He's unworldly, yet kind, generous, and full of surprises. And every character Kim encounters is wonderfully three-dimensional. When I started to get bogged down in the descriptions, I'd come across another character and be enchanted all over again.

What's funny is that Kipling is fond of reducing entire subgroups. It's not exactly stereotypes, more like sweeping generalizations. And he does it to *everyone*. The one I particularly remembered was "all white men have a fear of snakes". But I have trouble calling it straight-up racism in the traditional sense. He clearly loved India and all its people, and didn't reduce them to heathen savages.

I can't call this a complete win because there's not much of a story or character arc. Kim *ages* but doesn't exactly *grow*. Although he has greater knowledge at the end, he's still the same fun-loving, bright young man. In fact, I was surprised that Kim's story ends before his adult career in the Great Game. He gets name-checked in other books as an adult. In any case, Kim's story is fascinating, and Kipling's deep love of India makes this well worth reading.

BEWILDERING AND CONFUSING.

It felt as if it was the opportune moment to delve into one of the 'classics'. And Rudyard Kipling's adventure tale, Kim, seemed to be the perfect fit. I already possessed a copy of the ebook.

Alas, it was not a wise choice. Although it likely reflects more on my capabilities rather than the quality of the narrative, I have no inkling whatsoever about what this story was all about. If you have read Kim and comprehended what you read, you're a better man than I am Gunga Din. I offer you my salute.

Recommendation: For my part, I do not suggest that you read this tale.

Open Road Media. Kindle Edition. 203 pages.

“We'd go down to the river
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we'd ride”

That’s Bruce Springsteen, not Rudyard Kipling. All the mentions of The River just reminds me of this song.

So Kim is about the adventures of Kimball O'Hara, a young Irish boy in British colonial India. He's like Tom Sawyer or Bart Simpson, a little scamp. One day, he meets an elderly Tibetan Lama and becomes his disciple to go on a pilgrimage in search of the mystical River of the Arrow. Along the way, he meets British, Russian, and French spies and decides to become one himself for the Brits. He participates in “the Great Game” of espionage.

I like the characters in Kim, especially the Lama. I wonder if he's a true mystic or just an old loony. The ending is cosmic and ambiguous, like Woodstock. But as a Boy’s Own adventure, Kim is a bit boring. The espionage part doesn't thrill me. I didn't expect Kim to do all the crazy spy stuff, but what I got wasn't that exciting either. However, the philosophical side of Kim is very interesting. His identity crisis and coming to terms with his duality is thought-provoking. I also like how Kipling portrays the Lama's pacifist nature and his humorous ramblings.

At the end of the day, I kinda like this book. I think.

______________________

Note

Librivox Audiobook very nicely read by Adrian Praetzellis. Thank you!

I really struggled with the path that the plot takes. It seems to offer little more than just a brief insight into India during the colonial times. There could have been so much more exploration and depth added to this aspect. Instead of simply skimming the surface, the story could have delved deeper into the lives and experiences of the people living under colonial rule. We could have seen more of the cultural clashes, the political unrest, and the economic hardships that they faced. By doing so, the readers would have gained a more comprehensive understanding of the historical context and its impact on the characters and the overall narrative. As it stands, the plot feels somewhat limited and one-dimensional in its portrayal of this important era in Indian history.

Maybe 3.5.

I found this to be an extremely interesting read. It delves into a truly fascinating moment in history, which immediately grabs the reader's attention. The story is filled with a plethora of great themes that add depth and complexity to the narrative.

However, I must admit that there were certain places where I found it a little difficult to follow. The plot seemed to take some unexpected turns, and it required a bit of extra concentration to fully understand what was happening.

Overall, though, it was an enjoyable and interesting novel. Despite the few challenging parts, I was engaged throughout and eager to see how the story would unfold. It offered a unique perspective on history and presented some thought-provoking ideas. I would recommend it to others who are interested in historical fiction or those who enjoy exploring different themes and concepts.

\\n  “ Kim was white... a poor white among the poorest.”\\n


Kim is a coming-of-age, adventure, picaresque, and espionage novel, and you can add more genres if you like!


Kim is a young rascal who became an orphan and was raised by an opium-addicted woman. He grows up practically on the streets.

The son of an Irish sergeant and a nanny, little Kimball O’Hara quickly learns to be fast and cunning for his survival.

Everyone calls him “The Little Friend of the World.” Known for his agility and cunning, he is entrusted with seemingly innocent tasks, especially by the horse trader Mahbub Ali, who is actually a spy hired by the British government.

This is the “Great Game”: an intricate network of espionage in which, during the 19th century, Great Britain and Russia actually faced off for control of the Asian territories.

Kim decides to follow a Lama he meets by chance, thus setting off a series of encounters and fantastic adventures that will lead him to become involved with secret agents.


As he travels through a bustling India full of colorful characters, the coexistence of different religions stands out. Kim, from a street urchin, after his wanderings, ends up in a school for half-castes and then recognizes his role as a spy.

Every step through the country is a new milestone in his growth and self-awareness.


Today, we should judge the character of Kim more seriously for his role as a tool manipulated by the British colonialists. However, this reading can break free from these ideological shackles – if we want – and we can appreciate the freshness of youth in a vibrant India, so far removed from today's image.

In short, without beating around the bush: I had fun.

If you approach Kipling with no prior knowledge other than the aspects that make him a challenging read for contemporary audiences, you'll be in for a surprise—or at least I was. His talent for making scenes teeming with characters and cultures seem vivid and understandable, without relying on heavy-handed analogies or exaggerating their differences, is truly remarkable. I despise the term "cinematic" as I prefer books over movies and don't buy the idea that movies have anything to teach books. However, in "Kim," there are scenes where you feel as if you're actually moving through a crowded train car, able to see and hear everything. I suppose there are other mediums that can sometimes achieve this effect. Anyway, he is exceptionally good at this, in the 99th percentile. If he weren't the King of Late-Victorian literature, this is what people would remember him for. Since he is, I had no warning and was truly blown away.

I understand why people read Kipling the way they do, and there is some truth to it. The fact that he is equally convinced of the validity of "in the blood" explanations for both idiot Englishmen and idiot Indians is not exactly a reason for a full pardon. But there is a genuine generosity and richness in his portrayal of this vast, detailed, and completely unfamiliar world. I think the conclusions he sometimes draws from it obscure rather than destroy its value. Some of my well-intentioned contemporaries have done far worse by reducing their cultural acquaintances to "Us But With Different Food," as if on a long enough timescale, every world religion and philosophy will end up as an American Netflix dramedy. Kipling clearly believes in the importance and value of the distinct worlds that Kim traverses, and their ability to teach each other and educated English types. (I've read some earlier Kipling stories since finishing "Kim," and they're not nearly as good at this, which makes me think I'm not imagining his achievement here.)

As a novel, it's truly captivating. Kipling uses all the different voices, clothes, and practices to give us the impression of Kim darting around through his elders' legs. He's up to the task of equipping his hyper-resourceful child hero with appropriately novel ideas to navigate the world. The real pleasant surprise for me was how he manages to convey Kim's all-knowingness and credulity not just simultaneously but as convincing aspects of one personality. He's truly a Boy and a Genius, not just a Boy Genius. There are these wonderful kinetic shifts in balance where Kim believes (and we believe) that he has a situation under control, but then he's suddenly spellbound by what he thought was his own trick or plot. He's taking care of the unworldly old lama he travels with, good-naturedly winking at religion as a tool to extract food from rubes, and then he is struck dumb with a sudden conviction (born of love and the recognition of his own ignorance) that the lama might truly be able to talk to snakes—Mark Gospel stuff. I love it.

I read Rudyard Kipling's Kim after delving into Laurie King's The Game, a captivating Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell mystery where an adult Kim takes on a significant role. In Kipling's Kim, Kim is a shrewd Irish child born in India. After his parents' passing, he is raised by a half-caste, opium-smoking woman and spends the following years running wild and filled with curiosity. At the tender age of 13, he encounters his father's regiment, becomes a disciple to a lama, and embarks on the path of the spy trade.

I could perceive this story in multiple ways: as a lighthearted adventure, a coming-of-age tale, a spiritual odyssey, or an analysis of colonial England's interactions with India. The most engaging interpretations for me are as a coming-of-age story or a spiritual journey. Kim has a resemblance to a story from The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. For instance, the bright yet untrained novice makes the most of a series of fortuitous interactions and saves his world. In this reading of Kim, the lama and Yoda are nearly interchangeable, both serving as wise spiritual mentors.

‘Chela [disciple], know this. There are many lies in the world, and not a few liars, but there are no liars like our bodies, except it be the sensations of our bodies.’....

With a laugh across his tears, Kim kissed the lama’s feet, and went about the tea-making.

“Thou leanest on me in the body, Holy One, but I lean on thee for some other things. Dost know it?”

“I have guessed maybe,” and the lama’s eyes twinkled. “We must change that.”

Some readers of Kim zero in on the colonialism that forms the backdrop of the story. However, in my reading, many of the British are minor characters and often portrayed as buffoons. Although Kim is born to Irish parents and occasionally passes as a Sahib, he is Indian at heart rather than bicultural. Kim does not value or advocate rigidly adhering to the rules, nor does a stiff upper lip feature prominently here. Instead, this is a book that is a haven for curiosity, excitement, and passion, and to some extent, controlling that passion. Kim's life was lived in the present moment.

The reader, at least this particular reader, had as much enjoyment reading Kim as Kim seemed to have in the ordinary course of his day. His passion kindled my own.

A book that vividly captures the great game through the remarkable exploits of Kim. Kim, a 13-year-old boy, survives by his sharp wits. One day, he meets a Lama and makes the decision to follow and serve him. This sets off a captivating journey through old India under the Raj, revealing the diverse religions and the complex caste system. Kim is, at its core, an adventure story filled with both exciting and comical moments. It is a wonderful tale of espionage and a cast of colorful characters.

The English Patient is a reference to Kim and his travels with the old wanderer. Kipling has a truly wonderful way of writing, but to fully appreciate it, one needs to read it slowly and carefully. The story of espionage during the Raj is brought to life with a host of colorful characters, not the least of which is Kim, who, despite being born in India, is an outcast.

Kipling is a highly controversial author in modern times. He is often regarded as an unrepentant imperialist who actively promoted the British Empire and is even accused of being racist. However, Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, V.S. Naipaul, and Salman Rushdie have found Kipling to be impressive and influential. Kipling has the remarkable ability to be a wonderful storyteller. Rushdie once said that Kipling's writing has "the power simultaneously to infuriate and to entrance."

I have found this to be the case in both The Jungle Books and now Kim. Indeed, one can observe a, let's say, very un-PC sensibility in his works. But my overall impression is Kipling's profound love for India, which he knew intimately.

The diamond-bright dawn woke men and crows and bullocks together. Kim sat up and yawned, shook himself, and thrilled with delight. This was seeing the world in real truth; this was life as he would have it - bustling and shouting, the buckling of belts, and beating of bullocks and creaking of wheels, lighting of fires and cooking of food, and new sights at every turn of the approving eye. The morning mist swept off in a whorl of silver, the parrots shot away to some distant river in shrieking green hosts: all the well-wheels within ear-shot went to work. India was awake, and Kim was in the middle of it.

Kim is an orphan born as Kimball O'Hara, the son of an Irishman who served as a sergeant in the British Army in India. He grows up in the streets of Lahore in the Punjab, known as "the Little Friend of the World" and more fluent in the languages of India than English. If there is one indelible impression this book makes, it is in its vivid depiction of the richness and diversity of India, with its numerous different languages, ethnicities, and faiths. And in this book at least, the Indians and Asians are not portrayed as stereotypes, and those Europeans who refuse to learn from them are scorned. Kim is also about the "Great Game" of espionage and a coming-of-age adventure story about an unforgettable character who is not yet seventeen at the end of the book. I can definitely see traces of Kim in books as diverse as Robert Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy and Kaye's The Far Pavilions. This was a completely absorbing read.

Perhaps listening to this as an audiobook was indeed a misstep.

The narrator failed to capture my interest. The frail, hesitant, and quivering voice he employed for Lama was particularly grating, and unfortunately, Lama had a significant number of lines in the dialogue.

So, it's quite possible that my rating might have been higher had I engaged with the book in a different manner.

Anyway, I struggled to become immersed in the story. I managed to read about 20% of it, but quickly grew bored and ceased reading for a couple of weeks.

I didn't find the plot especially captivating, nor was I deeply invested in the characters.

To be honest, the only thing that compelled me to persevere was my aversion to leaving a book unfinished.

Towards the end, there were a few charming and touching moments where the characters demonstrated care and concern for one another, which earned the book an additional star from me.

However, for the most part, I remained unimpressed, bored, and relatively indifferent.

It's evident that there were some troublesome portrayals in this book. Given Kipling's reputation as a colonialist, I was somewhat expecting them.