Kipling

Mary St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

This short yet comprehensive biography of Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936)
is a fitting introduction to the well-known and well-loved author, who
was the first English winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1907)
and is best known for his Jungle Books and Just So Stories. Young adults
will find each chapter authoritative and informative. The photos and
drawings give readers a glimpse into Kipling’s life.

As Manguel recounts Kipling’s life in India and England, we learn of
his need for privacy, of his passion for the music hall, of his love for
his wife Carrie, and of his many close friends including King George V.
Kipling is portrayed as an honest and sympathetic man whose love for
India was not affected by the prejudices of his class in Britain at that
time.

Manguel is the author of the highly acclaimed A History of Reading
(2000). This well-written biography should be added to the
“must-buy” list for all high-school and public libraries. Highly
recommended.