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The Resource If : the untold story of Kipling's American years, Christopher Benfey

If : the untold story of Kipling's American years, Christopher Benfey

Creator
Author
Summary
"Rudyard Kipling once towered over not just English literature, but indeed the entire literary world. In 1907, at just forty-two, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming its youngest winner and the first in the English language. Today, however, when he is read, if indeed he is read at all, it is regarding the history of colonial India, his birthplace and the setting of some his most famous work, and to a lesser extent England, his ancestral home. But, in fact, Kipling's most prodigious and creative period took place in America, which was also his preferred home. It was here, on the crest of a Vermont hillside overlooking the Connecticut River, that Kipling wrote both The Jungle Book and Captains Courageous. And here where his ascent to fame was most rapid. Almost certainly, he would have stayed in the United States, understanding himself not just to be an American but a particularly American artist, had a family dispute not forced his departure in 1896. Steeped in the history of the Gilded Age, Christopher Benfey brings to life in fresh revelatory detail American Kipling, tracing a great but today deeply unfashionable writer's intense personal, political, and artistic involvement with the United States. He offers an overdue reminder of Kipling's extraordinary influence in his own lifetime, as well as a compelling portrait of the American artists and writers he both influenced and was influence by, including William James and, in particular, Mark Twain -- who Kipling sought out specifically as kindred spirit when he first arrived, and before long had eclipsed in literary fame and critical estimation. Intertwining biography, criticism, and history, IF restores judiciously a true story of great American artistry." --
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
[256] pages
Isbn
9780735221437
Instance
Label
If : the untold story of Kipling's American years
Title
If
Title remainder
the untold story of Kipling's American years
Statement of responsibility
Christopher Benfey
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"Rudyard Kipling once towered over not just English literature, but indeed the entire literary world. In 1907, at just forty-two, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming its youngest winner and the first in the English language. Today, however, when he is read, if indeed he is read at all, it is regarding the history of colonial India, his birthplace and the setting of some his most famous work, and to a lesser extent England, his ancestral home. But, in fact, Kipling's most prodigious and creative period took place in America, which was also his preferred home. It was here, on the crest of a Vermont hillside overlooking the Connecticut River, that Kipling wrote both The Jungle Book and Captains Courageous. And here where his ascent to fame was most rapid. Almost certainly, he would have stayed in the United States, understanding himself not just to be an American but a particularly American artist, had a family dispute not forced his departure in 1896. Steeped in the history of the Gilded Age, Christopher Benfey brings to life in fresh revelatory detail American Kipling, tracing a great but today deeply unfashionable writer's intense personal, political, and artistic involvement with the United States. He offers an overdue reminder of Kipling's extraordinary influence in his own lifetime, as well as a compelling portrait of the American artists and writers he both influenced and was influence by, including William James and, in particular, Mark Twain -- who Kipling sought out specifically as kindred spirit when he first arrived, and before long had eclipsed in literary fame and critical estimation. Intertwining biography, criticism, and history, IF restores judiciously a true story of great American artistry." --
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Biography type
individual biography
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1954-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Benfey, Christopher E. G.
Dewey number
  • 828/.809
  • B
Index
no index present
LC call number
PR4856
LC item number
.B39 2019
Literary form
non fiction
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Kipling, Rudyard
  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • Literature and society
Label
If : the untold story of Kipling's American years, Christopher Benfey
Instantiates
Publication
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
on1057305703
Dimensions
23 cm
Extent
[256] pages
Isbn
9780735221437
Lccn
2018058060
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1057305703
Label
If : the untold story of Kipling's American years, Christopher Benfey
Publication
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
on1057305703
Dimensions
23 cm
Extent
[256] pages
Isbn
9780735221437
Lccn
2018058060
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1057305703

Subject

Genre

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