Are Rudyard Kipling Books Geared More Towards Children Or Can Adults Enjoy Them Too?

Question

I want to buy a Rudyard Kipling book set and was wondering if his novels and books are more geared to children or if adults can enjoy them too? I'm familiar with the works of Mark Twain and other American and British authors from the turn of the century and was wondering if Rudyard Kipling's books are written in a similar style?

Answer 1

I find Kipling similar to Twain...but I'm a minority.
Kiplings Jungle Book is a wonderful set of tales. his works were inspired by Kiplings own life in India.
Though Jungle Book, a collection fo short stories, was written as a childrens book, it is a masterwork. Any adult reading it would get an instant sense of Kiplings thought and emotion while reading.
His adult books...my favorite is Kim, are poignant, compelling reads. His poetry is wonderful. Kipling would be a wonderful addition to any collection!
here is a sample, so you can judge for yourself....
from The White Mans Burden (poem)
Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.

from Kim (novel)
He stopped; for there shuffled round the corner, from the roaring Motee Bazar, such a man as Kim, who thought he knew all castes, had never seen. He was nearly six feet high, dressed in fold upon fold of dingy stuff like horse-blanketing, and not one fold of it could Kim refer to any known trade or profession. At his belt hung a long open-work iron pencase and a wooden rosary such as holy men wear. On his head was a gigantic sort of tam-o'-shanter. His face was yellow and wrinkled, like that of Fook Shing, the Chinese bootmaker in the bazar. His eyes turned up at the corners and looked like little slits of onyx.

Answer 2

Rudyard Kipling's original books and poems were geared towards the English literary hopefuls to get them to learn about more than jolly old England in the world at that time. A fanciful movie semi-drama, semi-comedy was made with Victor McLaglen, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Cary Grant with a young basically unknown actor Sam Jaffe playing the title role in the movie Gunga Din. It also features some guy playing Rudyard Kipling towards the end of the movie that makes it quite moving in the last minutes. Enjoy.

Answer 3

Some of his books, like the short story collection The Jungle Book, were written more for children. However, there's a lot of substance in them and I find them quite enjoyable to read even now. Kipling also wrote prolific poetry, and both his prose and poems have inspired much debate. He's interesting to read as an adult, because it forces you to question some of the themes in his novels. There's been great debate over whether prejudice in his poems and prose belongs to Kipling himself, or is placed their as satire, an ironic warning about one of the perils of imperialism. All in all, there's quite a bit to be found in reading Kipling's work. If you enjoyed Twain, I really think you'll like Kipling, as they both write in a rather similar style reflective of the period in which they lived.

Answer 4

i'd say adults can and do enjoy them- i don't think he ever really "geared" his writing. it more or less corresponded with his focus at the time. for example, he wrote a lot about the military, then about india and the white man's burden, and then after he had a child he changed his focus yet again. some of his stories- like the just so stories- can and are read to children, but i think they can be appreciated by people of all ages. he wrote those for his daughter though, publishing them after her death. in general, i would say an adult is a more likely candidate for fully appreciating the work of rudyard kipling. his works are true to the form prevalent at the time he wrote, although i think his works are charmingly creative and unique. i'd say go for the book set- and i hope you enjoy him!

Answer 5

When Kipling wrote, it was for adults. There was no thought of separate books for children. Kipling was also critical of the British imperialism.

I think you will enjoy them. I do.

Answer 6

He wrote with children in mind in the Jungle Book stories, and I recommend especially "Puck Of Pook's Hill". Even so, there's a lot for adults in the "children's" tales.

But there is a lot in his poetry and short stories which is raw and solid and real, and definitely for adults, and only for children when they can appreciate it.

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
(The young British Soldier)

You won't find a simple picture of war and the soldier in Kipling, He's more honest than that.

Most amazing short story of guts and heroism: the tale of a one-sided polo match, as told by one of the horses involved. "The Maltese Cat."

Answer 7

Graphic violence and sexuality? Fantasy-wise (what I mainly read) there's George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, but be forewarned, these books eat your soul (at this point, I'm mainly reading in the hopes that something goes right for once). Great storytelling, but almost painful.

Answer 8

They're interesting for adults because they're really about colonial thinking and how the white man keeps the brother man down.

Answer 9

Its for adults who'd love to be children...!