tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post8486409639905303958..comments2024-03-27T06:42:26.250-07:00Comments on Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Magical Classics: "Puck of Pook's Hill" by Rudyard KiplingKatherine Langrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-83815743926614671032014-02-07T09:16:32.199-08:002014-02-07T09:16:32.199-08:00A new anthology of Kipling’s verse argues that the...A new anthology of Kipling’s verse argues that the poet, far from being the stuffy Victorian imperialist he is sometimes depicted, was a man of fine sensibilities who dealt with the timeless themes of pain and suffering, forgiveness and redemption, love and hate. Concerned with ‘the mere uncounted folk/Of whose life and death is none/Report or lamentation’, he dragged the dirt and squalor of the battlefield into England’s elegant parlours, spoke in the voice of ordinary men and women and berated officialdom for ignoring the poor and hungry peasantry of India.<br />Familiarity, the author argues, has dulled the effect of the poet’s most well known pieces, like ‘If-‘ and ‘Mandalay’, while other, equally fine, poems have been neglected. The Surprising Mr Kipling offers, not another selection of the poet’s ‘best’ poems, but one which demonstrates the extraordinary width and depth of his talents and the light which they throw on their great but enigmatic author. The author admits that it is a risky strategy, but it is one that, if judged correctly, could introduce many new readers to the full splendour of Kipling’s verse.<br /><br />THE SURPRISING MR KIPLING by Brian Harris, OBE is Available from Amazon leading bookshops.<br />Inquiries: Tel: 01234 712932<br />lakerudyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782496899898494265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-80820547106050349192014-02-01T14:45:11.700-08:002014-02-01T14:45:11.700-08:00If u loved this book u should get Michael Buckley&...If u loved this book u should get Michael Buckley's booksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-64257007106333896892013-07-24T11:35:03.687-07:002013-07-24T11:35:03.687-07:00I have read this book, but your post makes me want...I have read this book, but your post makes me want to read it again. Thank you!Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-47409450578366324672013-07-22T08:25:25.047-07:002013-07-22T08:25:25.047-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.sewa mobilhttp://griyamobilkita.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-44968324697247240752013-07-22T01:50:30.728-07:002013-07-22T01:50:30.728-07:00Talking of the values of hard work, etc. - does an...Talking of the values of hard work, etc. - does anyone know his Sons of Martha poem? It's fabulous. It can be read as about the toiling working classes who build the foundations, while the elite float around with no visible support - but also just fits certain characters so well - the careful planners versus the seat-of-the-pants wingers in life. The sons of Martha 'do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose' <br /><br /><br />Celia C.J.Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12288574235370421625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-61268371808396529722013-07-22T01:40:13.148-07:002013-07-22T01:40:13.148-07:00I loved Puck of Pook's Hill, and also Rewards ...I loved Puck of Pook's Hill, and also Rewards and Fairies - as well as all Kiplings books, which I read as a child. And I couldn't agree more about his sort of Edwardian moralising - it seems very old-fashioned and conservative from the perspective of the left liberalism we grew up with as students, but it resonated with me so strongly as a child, as it's still very deeply ingrained - an admiration for the values of courage and virtue and doing the right thing, not for reward but because you know it's right (even when you know it's so mixed up with the dreadful things the British colonial elite managed to do despite holding all those virtues dear!) I loved Captian's Courageous, and also Stalky and Co - anyone remember them?! I was in love with Stalky for about a year when i was 13 or so.C.J.Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12288574235370421625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-12850148903285301112013-07-22T00:36:20.911-07:002013-07-22T00:36:20.911-07:00I loved this book so much as a kid one of my schoo...I loved this book so much as a kid one of my school nicknames was Pook. True story. Thank for this post, John & Katherine - you've made me want to read it again :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455915239098174762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-21834588664863807412013-07-21T05:38:17.293-07:002013-07-21T05:38:17.293-07:00I just finished writing an Afterward for Captains ...I just finished writing an Afterward for Captains Courageous and what Dickinson says about Puck of Pook's Hill is there as well. That undercurrent of Do what Is Right, Work Hard, and Courage Follows that was Kipling's (and his era's) definition of the best in humanity. It informs all his work, but most especially his books for young readers.<br /><br />--Jane Yolenjaneyolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396863710083180775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-12445641020811847962013-07-20T08:21:40.927-07:002013-07-20T08:21:40.927-07:00I love Kipling too, but somehow I missed Puck of P...I love Kipling too, but somehow I missed Puck of Pook's Hill as a child. I MUST read it. Better very late than never!Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-176042169617192972013-07-20T04:51:19.938-07:002013-07-20T04:51:19.938-07:00I love Kipling. I love this book.I love Kipling. I love this book.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.com