Kim

First English Edition, illustrated frontispiece, 9 plates, title outlined in red, light foxing, 2 pp. of advertisements, 8vo, red publisher’s cloth, title in gilt on spine, gilt elephant vignette on centre top board, a little rubbing, bookplate of C.B. Matthew, ownership note (‘T. Guily 1901’), London, Macmillan and Co., 1901

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) ,Nobel Prize winner, English author was born in India, which inspired much of his work. Kim was originally published serially in McClure’s Magazine between December 1900 and October 1901. It was also published in Cassell’s Magazine between January and November 1901. Kim is often cited as Kipling’s masterpiece. The novel is noted for its detailed portrait of the people, culture and varied religions of India. Kim is also credited with popularising the term ‘The Great Game’, referring to the political conflict between Russia and Britain in Central Asia, which forms the backdrop to the story. The story is set between the Second and Third Afghan Wars so between 1893 and 1898. Roger Sale describes the work:

“Kim is the apotheosis of the Victorian cult of childhood, but it shines now as bright as ever, long after the Empire’s collapse…”

Since being published, Kim has been adapted into several films, inspired authors and been directly referenced in several pieces of literature, as well as having a town named after it.