Rudyard Kipling to Rider Haggard: The Record of a Friendship

Morton N. Cohen presents the decades-long friendship between two giants of Victorian literature through their correspondence and interactions. The book draws from letters exchanged between Rudyard Kipling and H. Rider Haggard from 1889 to 1925. The narrative follows these two colonial-era writers as they discuss their work, share personal experiences, and navigate the dramatic changes of the early 20th century. Their exchanges reveal their views on writing, publishing, politics, and the British Empire during a pivotal historical period. Cohen provides context and commentary throughout, connecting the writers' personal communications to broader historical events and literary developments. The book includes previously unpublished letters and documents that establish the depth of their professional and personal bond. The friendship between these two influential authors illuminates both their individual legacies and the cultural dynamics of their era. Their correspondence represents a unique intersection of literary ambition, imperial perspective, and Victorian sensibility.

Readers found this collection of letters between Kipling and Haggard provides intimate insights into both authors' personal lives and creative processes during their 30-year friendship. Readers appreciated: - The detailed annotations and context provided by Cohen - The candid discussion of writing craft between the authors - The historical glimpses into colonial British society - The natural, unguarded tone of the correspondence Common criticisms: - Some letters focus on mundane topics like farming and gardening - Gaps in the correspondence leave certain periods uncovered - Limited analysis of the authors' major works Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2 ratings) Notable reader quote: "These letters reveal both men as they really were - imperfect, opinionated, but deeply committed to their craft. Cohen's footnotes are indispensable for modern readers." - Goodreads reviewer [Note: This book has limited online reviews available, so ratings data is sparse]

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🌟 The book reveals that both Kipling and Haggard shared a deep concern about Britain's military unpreparedness before WWI, which they discussed extensively in their correspondence 📚 Morton Cohen spent over 20 years collecting and researching the letters between these two literary giants before publishing this detailed account of their friendship 🖋️ Despite their different writing styles—Kipling known for his Indian tales and Haggard for his African adventures—the authors maintained a close friendship for over 35 years 🏰 Much of the correspondence between the two writers took place while Haggard lived at Ditchingham House in Norfolk, where he cultivated rare trees and experimented with farming methods 📬 The book includes previously unpublished letters that reveal both authors' shared interest in psychical research and supernatural phenomena, topics they rarely discussed in their published works