Thank you, David and to Fred Lerner who contacted me and I replied to
off list. Much appreciated.
BTW When I referred to Kipling as a "cynical bastard" the "B" word was
meant affectionately. In Australia it has long since passed out of
usage as a derogatory term. Now it's almost a regular term for meeting a
long lost mate, as in a couple of old codgers down at the local:
"Geezus, if it ain't Tim bloody Dawson, how you goin' you old bastard?"
It's also used for somebody who has done something very clever and
against the odds as in "What a clever B, you are" or "What a lucky B,
you are."
I suspect it may be the same in the UK and the US, but I don't really
know.
Totally off the topic of the list I know, but in doing some research on
British India I came across a gentleman who had Bastard in his name.
The internet revealed that it was very old British surname. The said
gentleman was Captain Pownoll Bastard Pellew.
I found this in the book "Children of the Raj" by Vyvyen Brendon, and it
is by and large exploring history through the children's eyes. The
Kiplings get mentioned as does Kipling's "Kim". Ms Brendon's research
appears to be immaculate, mostly based on original letters, and her
argument overall is that the children would have been better staying in
India with their parents. Because at the time the fears of children
perishing in India and having a greater chance of survival in Britain
were largely unfounded.
The stories of the children who were sent back to Britain for their
health and education, and didn't see their parents for another 10 or 15,
years are very very sad. The stories about the Eurasian children who
were sent back to Britain are even sadder. As a father of three
daughters I am finding it a difficult book to read. The sad anguish and
isolation of the children separated from their parents is often too
much.
Ms Brandon does however present Kipling as understanding these issues
and implicitly argues I believe that "Kim" was a response to the
Anglo-Indian practice of sending children back to Britain.
I think she might be on the money. Does anyone else see this in
"Kim"?
regards
Geoffrey Maloney
Brisbane, Australia
On Tue, 2010-03-16 at 12:12 +0000, David Page wrote:
> Dear Geoff
>
>
> I suggest that you look at the General Article by Fred Lerner on
> "Kipling as a Science Fiction Writer". There is a link to it in the
> Readers' Guide section of our website.
>
>
> Yours, David
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> From: Geoff <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tue, 16 March, 2010 11:19:24
> Subject: Promoting Kipling at World Con 2010
>
> Dear Kipling List
>
> The Science Fiction and Fantasy World Convention is to be held in
> Melbourne, Australia in September this year.
>
> I will be attending as an associate editor of Aurealis, Australia's
> longest running professional F&SF magazine.
>
> I would also like to submit a paper discussing Kipling's work in the
> speculative fiction field, and also counteract the negative response
> that Neil Gaiman received. I wish to promote Kipling's fantasy works
> and dispel the myths about him being an out and out racist at the same
> time.
>
> As we are all here to promote Kipling, advice would be welcome from
> all
> members of the list.
>
> I think my own views are known, Kipling was a bit of a cynical
> bastard,
> and a true writer. Little of what he wrote is what Kipling thought.
> The man, not the writing, is a complicated puzzle.
>
> regards
>
> Geoff
>
> Brisbane, Australia
>
>
>
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