Wanting to read up on some Kipling, I've been reading a bunch of John Ringo's books and he puts quotes from Kipling into most of them. I'm wanting to check them out for myself. Can anyone recommend me a particular version or edition?
I found this on Amazon, wondering if would be a good choice. Rudyard Kipling: Complete Verse (http://www.amazon.com/Rudyard-Kipling-Complete-Verse/dp/038526089X/sr=11-1/qid=1172374258/ref=sr_11_1/105-3431589-6005260)
There are no particularly good versions of Kipling unless things like print and format influence you. You can probably find many of his books in secondhand shops. Also, a bit of Googling will find you his works online for free (best way to read his poetry).
My favourite is Stalky and Co. (http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/StalkyandCo/index.html), but his best-loved works are probably Kim, The Jungle Books and Just So Stories.
[EDIT: Oh, fuck, broke my own promise without even thinking.]
Quote from: droog[EDIT: Oh, fuck, broke my own promise without even thinking.]
Promise? I'm missing something here.
I'd like hardcopy to be able to read when I'm away from a computer, but yeah I'll be checking with HalfPriceBooks and such.
Quote from: cnath.rmPromise? I'm missing something here.
droog thought he was out of Off-Topic, but we keep
dragging him back in! MUAHAHAHA! :D
Damn you, Lower-Basch!
At least it's only literature.
Mr. Kipling does make exceedingly good cakes...
(http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Mr_Kipling_French_Fancies_8_Pack.jpg)
There was a little ditty quoted in the movie "The beast" about a russian tank in afghainistan. It went something like: "When yer fall on afghanistan's plains, and the women come to pick yer remains, just hitch up yer rifle and blow out yer brains, and go to yer god like a soldier ought."
I kinda liked it.
Also, George Orwell's essay on Kipling (http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/Orwell-B.htm) gives some context, and resonates with the geopolitical situation today.
Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/k) has a large portion of Kipling's work readily available.
I know it's the obvious choices, but I always liked the poems "If", "Gunga Din", and "Mandalay".
Quote from: cnath.rmI found this on Amazon, wondering if would be a good choice. Rudyard Kipling: Complete Verse (http://www.amazon.com/Rudyard-Kipling-Complete-Verse/dp/038526089X/sr=11-1/qid=1172374258/ref=sr_11_1/105-3431589-6005260)
I've got it. Good stuff in it; I like some of the lesser known works as well as the better.
I read a lot onscreen, but I usually read poetry before I fall asleep, so it's handy to have a book.
The Man Who Would Be King is rightly considered a classic, and should be free from Gutenberg.
Any of it - it's all great. I've never been disappointed by Kipling yet.
-clash
Quote from: flyingmiceAny of it - it's all great. I've never been disappointed by Kipling yet.
-clash
I hear you. He's most likely my 2nd favorite author, right after Mark Twain.
Thanks for all the feedback!! After reading Ringo's "A Hymn Before Battle" with all of the bits of Kipling's original in the chapter headings I started getting interested, and reading more of Ringo and a few others who like to quote it has me even more interested. (for what it's worth a bunch of Ringo's stuff is in the Baen books Free Library for download, totally recommend it.)
Wait. We're on page 2, and while we've gotten this...
(http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Mr_Kipling_French_Fancies_8_Pack.jpg)
...no one has made the "you naughty boy" joke? Slackers.
!i!
Quote from: Zachary The FirstI hear you. He's most likely my 2nd favorite author, right after Mark Twain.
I have a gorgeous edition of Kim - with the illustrations being bas-relief sculpture by Kipling's father. One of these days I'll have to look at the fly leaf and find out what edition it is. It's quite old.
-clash
...am I the only ones who keeps seeing "Need help pickling some kippers"?
And then there's this Thrud the Barbarian episode from some ancient White Dwarf issue. Our hero decides to become sophisticated and hang out with people in fancy hats. IIRC he's asked, "I say, my man, do you know Kipling?" "No, I've never kippled."
Was that what he said? It's not very funny, really. He did go on to slay everyone.
Young, ardent fellow, attempting to woo a pretty girl: "So, do you like Kipling?"
Girl to fellow: "I don't know, you naughty boy! I've never Kippled!"
!i!
I botched it, didn't I?
No, no. Your account involved slaughter and gore. Mine pales in comparison.
!i!