Kipling and Afghanistan: A Study of the Young Author as Journalist Writing on the Afghan Border Crisis of 1884-1885

by Neil K. Moran

Overview

Alive with adventure, rich with exotic detail, the voice of Rudyard Kipling carried readers to faraway locations and brought new, exciting scenes to their doorsteps. Born and raised in India, Kipling became the voice of the eastern British Empire, and his writing extensively covered Central Asia. Early in his career, Kipling drew inspiration not from travels of his own, but from working with far-flung correspondents at the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore, Pakistan, where he served as assistant editor. One of his chief correspondents was Dr. Charles Owen, a close friend of his father's who served a tour of duty with the Afghan Boundary Commission between 1884 and 1886 addressing the border dispute between Great Britain and Russia.

This historical biography provides a new perspective on Kipling's days as an employee of the Civil and Military Gazette. Information garnered from newly uncovered letters and diaries of Dr. Owen (acquired by the National Army Museum in 1998) gives personal insight into Kipling's life as well as firsthand perceptions of the Boundary Commission's work. In addition, appendices provide a wealth of information regarding articles by Kipling, articles attributed to Kipling or his supervisor Wheeler, Kipling's translations of Russian dispatches, and Boundary Commission reports.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786422821
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	10/11/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	243
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Author and translator Neil K. Moran is an editor of the Canadian Oriental Rug Magazine. He has contributed articles to the Kipling Journal as well as several journals related to Central Asia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements     
Preface     

1: Prologue     
2: The Journey to Sarakhs     
3: The ABC Reaches Its Destination     
4: Her Majesty’s Troops Retreat     
5: England and Russia Face to Face in Asia     
6: Forging the Boundary     
7: The ABC in Lahore     

Introduction to the Appendices     
Appendix I: Articles by Rudyard Kipling     
Appendix II: Articles on Central Asia and Afghanistan Attributed to Kipling or Wheeler     
Appendix III: Translations by Rudyard Kipling     
Appendix IV: Afghan Boundary Commission Reports from Correspondents     
Appendix V: Members of the Afghan Boundary Commission     
Notes     
Selected Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

well illustrated...fascinating reading...based on intensive research”—Kipling Journal.

From the Publisher

well illustrated...fascinating reading...based on intensive research

Kipling Journal