(306 pages)I've seen several references to this being an unusually good work - including via the Anecdotal Evidence blog (a favorite) - and I like Kipling's work in general - so thought I'd try it. Enjoyed the book a lot, though I don't feel it met my perhaps too-pumped-up expectations.
Bio discussion here.
Kim is a young Irish orphan living in Lahore; street-smart, personable, well versed in local ways and language. His father was in an Irish regiment and made some minor arrangements for his care; also told him how he would find his fortune. Kim encounters a lama traveling down from the mountainous northeast - a variant of Buddhism - on a quest of his own, and they join forces.
Kim encounters the regiment, is required to attend school, and eventually is recruited to participate in what is referred to as the "Great Game" - which is rather assumed to be a glorious endeavor as Russia and England jockey for position relative to India, Afghanistan, other "stans" - apparently this was a pretty big geopolitical deal as there are constant references to it in 19th century stories.
But the "Great Game" part is somewhat a side light - I like the discussions of India - primarily in the North - all the characters Kim encounters - also the pursuit of the lama's quest.
Kipling as the conflicted figure - used language such as "white man's burden" and other jingoistic works so I'd expect quite unfashionable these days; yet as he grew older, perhaps all along, he's seemingly much in love (and sympathy) with India. As one would expect, the views of his time seep through; but he doesn't seem to glorify West views as if inherently superior to those from India.
Kipling born in India but had much early schooling in England, then back to India at age 16 and starts writing in Lahore (newspaper, etc.) He was deeply connected to India, and I think it shows.
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