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The Five Nations
The Five Nations, poems about the Boer war ( 1899-1902 ) in South Africa and its consequences, was published in 1903.
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1903
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
5,942 books3,464 followersJoseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 15, 2021
6/10.
A mixed bag of poetry by Kipling, which was written from 1896-1903. One major theme of this collection is that the Europeans (and especially the British) keep wasting their blood trying to colonize the whole earth. They have such idealistic hopes of a magical transformation happening to other places in the world, where Christian civilization is brought to them from pious and nationalistic men. But in the end, the Faustian yearnings of Western man always fall short of their goal. The natives do not want to reform, do not want to change their ways. Much blood is spilt from equatorial disease, barbarous battles, and an environment not suited to those who descend from the North.
But — alas! — the high hopes continue pushing forward into the abyss. The high ideals of many Brits led to easy exploitation by a plutocratic elite wanting more gold, more money from the Boer lands. This money power led to senseless death of closely-related peoples and the downfall of the pride of the British Empire. A large part of this collection of poetry is about the Boer War, which I did not connect with as I do not know that much about the war. What I do know is that base motives tricked the British into a false patriotism which only hurt them in the long-run.
A mixed bag of poetry by Kipling, which was written from 1896-1903. One major theme of this collection is that the Europeans (and especially the British) keep wasting their blood trying to colonize the whole earth. They have such idealistic hopes of a magical transformation happening to other places in the world, where Christian civilization is brought to them from pious and nationalistic men. But in the end, the Faustian yearnings of Western man always fall short of their goal. The natives do not want to reform, do not want to change their ways. Much blood is spilt from equatorial disease, barbarous battles, and an environment not suited to those who descend from the North.
But — alas! — the high hopes continue pushing forward into the abyss. The high ideals of many Brits led to easy exploitation by a plutocratic elite wanting more gold, more money from the Boer lands. This money power led to senseless death of closely-related peoples and the downfall of the pride of the British Empire. A large part of this collection of poetry is about the Boer War, which I did not connect with as I do not know that much about the war. What I do know is that base motives tricked the British into a false patriotism which only hurt them in the long-run.
January 7, 2014
I got this as a Christmas present (matching several others I've already got in a nice edition) ... I read it last night ... I don't think it contains Kipling's best works, but it does include 'The white man's burden' and 'Boots'. I know it's fashionable to criticize Kipling for his imperialist views but you can't beat his scansion and rhythm and, beneath those marching couplets, there's often strong anti-war sentiment and wonderful human observation.
March 30, 2018
Good collection of Kiplings poetry.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews