Angus Wilson in his 'The strange ride of Rudyard Kipling' on the subject of
William the Conqueror states that this is RK's only story of Indian famine
and has roots in the contemporary recollections of the terrible Madras
famine of the late 1870s.
There are also some other interesting elements in this story:
Wilson opined that it showed 'the young, pioneer Punjab coming to the aid
of the old, lazy rotting S India'.
Wilson also felt that the character 'William' was a tribute to the memory of
'Ted' Hill and perhaps to his own wife's staying power and guts.
The Departmental Ditty -The Masque of Plenty has relevance.
Michael Jefferson
-----Original Message-----
From: kn6 <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, May 15, 2000 6:35 PM
Subject: the Indian Famine
>hello. I have a question. I am looking at 'William the
>Conqueror', and wondering if there are any other
>works/descriptions/comments by Kipling on the Indian Famine
>or the famine-relief under the British Empire. I haven't
>come across any yet. if anybody could help me, I'd be very
>grateful.
>
>thank you
>Kaori Nagai
>
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