Rudyard Kipling is one of the outstanding British writers. He was born
in 1865 in the family of an Englishman in India. He got his education in
England but returned to India in 1882. There he spent 6 years working
in colonial English press. There he published his first literary works.
In 1890 he published his first novel "The Light that Failed”, which
brought him fame. He was one of the most popular writers of his time.
During his life he visited South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and
Japan. "Plain Tales from the Plain Hills”, "Barrack Room Ballads”,
"Naulakka” enjoyed great popularity. During the years of Anglo-Boer War
Kipling used to visit the English Army. His novel "Kim” was written
under the impressions of the War. In October 1902 his "Just so Stories
for Little Children” were published. His fairy-tales from the book were
rather unusual for the British literature of that period. One can find
the influence of Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland” in Kipling’s
work. But this influence didn’t prevent Kipling from creating absolutely
new, unusual fairy-tales. The unusual effect of his tales is reached by
the rhythm and the music of words. Those who were lucky to listen to
Kipling reading his fairy-tales noted that they always sounded truthful.
Besides, not only children but even adults were very fond of "Just so
Stories”. Together with "The Jungle Book” it still enjoys great
popularity. Every year the children in "Kipling Society” write
continuation to his fairy-tales. In 1907 Kipling was awarded the Nobel
Prize.
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