Kim

A mistake. Rudyard Kipling is a seriously unfashionable writer nowadays, but I'd enjoyed my only previous encounter with him (The Man Who Would Be King and Other Stories) so I was keen to try his classic adventure novel, Kim. Unfortunately, the story has aged very, very poorly.

I'm not referring to the outdated worldview or language (which are common criticisms of Kipling), and to be honest those features are not much in evidence in Kim. But Kipling's qualities, durable in the small doses of his short stories, are exposed in this long-form novel format. The thread of the plot, hard to gauge from the start, disintegrates badly during the hard miles of the prose, which is far too busy and chock-a-block with redundant dialogue and baseless show more noodling. Characterisation is similarly poor; the titular Kim never rises beyond a sketch, and his relationship with the lama lacks camaraderie or affection. The espionage plot-line (Kim popularised the term 'the Great Game') is surprisingly lacking in intrigue – that is, on the rare occasions when the reader can make heads or tails out of what is going on. For an adventure novel – for any novel, in fact – this is dull.

The only creditable part of Kim is its recreation of the "roaring whirl of India" during British rule (pg. 149); in this respect, and only in this respect, the fact that the book has aged poorly is a boon. With its dialects and rituals and its general chaotic portrayal of the subcontinent, it has value as a time capsule. "India was awake, and Kim was in the middle of it" (pg. 95), and this, in truth, is the only lasting appeal of the book.

There's little of literary merit to the novel; this is a boy's book (albeit a dull and needlessly complicated one) and its attempt to reach higher is clumsy. There is a lot of mysticism in the novel – with the lama who Kim accompanies seeking to free himself from the 'Wheel of Things' by finding a legendary 'River' – but it's all very shallow and unearned, despite Kipling's attempts to add some woo-woo resonance by capitalising words like 'Road', 'Search', 'Hills' and 'Sea'. The only point of recommendation remains the book's capture of some of the flavours of India, but as Kim himself says, "that is kichree – vegetable curry" (pg. 231), and I was left craving a bit more meat. show less

I'd never read Kim or, in fact, anything by Rudyard Kipling before. I've been told that Kipling is the "poster boy" supporting colonialism, as well as racist so I started this book with some trepidation.

It would be nice to be able to say simply "this is a story of a great quest" and enjoy it on its own terms, but I think we have to be aware of at least some of the assumptions Kipling is asking us to make about the world. While I noted some references that are clearly racist (especially by today's standards), I could live with those because most major characters, of all races, were presented as multi-dimensional human beings. What was harder for me to accept is the way the author, and his characters, refuse to consider any challenges to show more the status quo of colonialism. In Kim himself, we have someone who has grown up in an Indian cultural environment, having lost his European parents at a very young age, but who nevertheless has a special destiny because of his racial origins. I don't think we can absolve Kipling of racism on this point.

The debate on whether to continue to read Kipling has a parallel in today's debate over the naming of schools after our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. As Senator Murray Sinclair said in a CBC Radio interview, I think it is important to understand and learn from history. That is why we must read Kim as a product of its time, not as a product of today. That is why it is better to use Kim (and Kipling) as a launching pad for discussion of our history and how it influences our present rather than hiding them in a dark closet.

I enjoyed Kim as a character. His character is pulled in opposite directions which parallels the broader geopolitical situation around him. But as a story, Kim was, at best, adequate. The part of the book dealing with espionage was juvenile. I strongly preferred the part dealing with Kim's relationship and quest with the lama.

Mr. Kipling's writes well; his descriptions are fantastic, and I really felt like I was on the train with Kim and the lama.

On balance, there are good points: the writing, the rich detail of Indian culture, Kim himself and his search for his identity, the quest story. There are also bad points: the colonialism for sure, and the plot, especially the spy story, left something to be desired. show less

Kipling's classic tale of the orphaned son of an Irish soldier growing up on the streets of Colonial India and discovering his natural talent as a spy.

Between the somewhat old-fashioned language and the many, many unfamiliar cultural references, I fear that parts of this may have gone past me a bit, but I enjoyed it a great deal, anyway. There's a wonderfully subtle sense of humor to it, and an equally wonderful sense of the vibrancy and diversity of the Indian landscape and culture. And the sly, savvy Kim is a terrific character, as are many of the people he shares his adventures with.

A memorably vivid evocation of the life and landscapes of India in the late nineteenth century. Kim himself is a resourceful lad who befriends a lama, an ageing priest; and both embark on a combined quest. Whereas Kim has an insatiable interest in the varied activities around him, the lama seeks redemption from the 'Wheel of Life'. Kim becomes involved in the 'Great Game', undertaking espionage for the British rulers.

This engrossing and moving novel, with its diversity of memorable characters, offers many insights into political, religious and social tensions.

Poor Kim. Like author Kipling, the boy Kim is torn between East and West.
As a young orphan, Kim befriends a lama who is on a quest for the River of the Arrow, which will cleanse him of his sins and help him attain enlightenment. Very soon Kim becomes completely devoted to the Teshoo Lama, will follow him anywhere, serving the Lama as his chela, or disciple. Kim’s love for this man is complete and touching. And the Lama’s love for Kim is equally strong.
Meanwhile, though, Kim has come to the attention of the British governmental spy system. They’re eager to exploit the boy’s amazing talent in languages, his ability to adopt the manners and dress of any one of the many cultures in India, his outstanding memory and mental strength, show more and his desire for adventure.
In a slightly complicated plot line, Kim is sent to a British school, learns surveying, and, at 17, is sent on a dangerous and important mission.
Kim’s continued devotion to his Lama, his bravery and cleverness, and his sense of fun all work together to make him beloved by many of the men who oversee his education, bookish and otherwise.
But. Has it all been too much weight for his slim shoulders? Does he have a nervous collapse, perhaps made worse by dengue fever? And what will Kim make of his adult life? He accomplishes his mission, but takes a long time to recover, physically and emotionally, from the strain.
The reader is given a tiny glimpse that all may not go well for Kim. And yet it might.
I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it still today. I do have one response to those who say Kipling indulges in stereotyping here, citing the character of Babu. Babu is often afraid, and is the only character who admits to that. And yet he risks his life and the acute possibility of torture, both to accomplish British aims and to save Kim and the Lama. I would argue that he’s a true hero: smart enough to be afraid, but brave and loyal enough to overcome those very real fears and do what he sees as the right thing, and his duty. show less

This book is probably Kipling's most problematic - though Stalky & Co. comes close. It's also Kipling's most eloquent work, and the perfect example of how a sexist, racist, imperialist can show love for those they consider utterly beneath them.

I try to re-read it every couple of years for the words - and the reminder that sweet *censored* pants, humans are utterly terrifying in their capacity to demean and diminish those they have the slightest iota of power over.

Well, even though I had been a member of the scouting movement, this was my first reading of this taut, well thought-out spy novel. It's proof that Kipling was a writer capable of adult themes, and with a good eye for details. There are many parallels with the later figure of "James Bond", the creation of a false familial relationship, the need for a father figure, and the recruitment of those with great emotional needs to serve national ends. Come to think of it, John Le Carre is also another obvious student. Suitable for young adults, and a good place for adult discussions of espionage to begin.
this book was originally published in 1901.