Book Description:
Kim by Rudyard Kipling is a rich, adventurous novel set in British-ruled India during the late 19th century. It follows the story of Kimball O’Hara, an orphaned son of an Irish soldier, who is raised as a streetwise native in the vibrant, multicultural world of colonial India. Fluent in the languages and customs of the region, Kim becomes entangled in a thrilling tale of espionage known as the "Great Game" — the strategic rivalry between the British and Russian empires.
Guided by both a Tibetan lama on a spiritual quest and British intelligence officers who recognize Kim’s talents, the novel masterfully balances the spiritual and the political, adventure and identity. Through Kim’s eyes, Kipling presents an intricate tapestry of Indian society, full of mysticism, tension, and wonder.
Published in 1901, Kim is considered Kipling’s masterpiece — a novel that blends coming-of-age storytelling with sharp geopolitical insight and vivid cultural detail.