Something of Myself

Something of Myself is Rudyard Kipling's autobiography, completed in the final months of his life and published posthumously in 1937. The manuscript was prepared for publication by his wife Caroline after his death, maintaining Kipling's original focus and intentions for the work. The book centers on Kipling's development as a writer and the creative processes behind his most significant works. Through seven chapters, he traces his journey from his early days as a journalist in India through his rise to literary prominence. Rather than a traditional memoir filled with personal details, Something of Myself focuses specifically on the professional and artistic elements of Kipling's life. The narrative emphasizes his writing methods, sources of inspiration, and observations about the craft of storytelling. The autobiography offers a window into the relationship between Kipling's experiences and his creative output, exploring how his time in India, America, and England shaped his literary perspective. This selective approach to memoir-writing reveals Kipling's conviction that a writer's work, rather than their personal life, should be their primary legacy.

Readers note this autobiography feels incomplete and guarded, with Kipling revealing little about his personal life or relationships. Many appreciate the insights into his writing process and experiences in India, South Africa, and Vermont. The sections on his journalism career and literary development receive praise for their detail. Readers liked: - First-hand accounts of colonial India - Details about how specific works were created - Historical context of the late Victorian era - Writing style and humor Readers disliked: - Lack of emotional depth or introspection - Minimal coverage of family relationships - Abrupt ending - Defensive tone about critics Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (243 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) Common review notes mention it serves better as a literary memoir than a personal autobiography. Several readers point out that Kipling wrote this while terminally ill, which may explain its limitations and reserved nature.

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🌟 Written during Kipling's final year while battling illness, each chapter was meticulously reviewed and edited from his sickbed. 🌟 The title "Something of Myself" was chosen to reflect the deliberately selective nature of the memoir, acknowledging that he was sharing only carefully chosen fragments of his life. 🌟 This was the first time Kipling revealed that his famous story "The Man Who Would Be King" was inspired by real-life adventurers he met while working as a journalist in India. 🌟 Despite being one of the most famous authors of his time, Kipling wrote very little about his Nobel Prize win or his remarkable commercial success in this memoir. 🌟 The manuscript features detailed accounts of his writing routine, including his strict practice of "letting stories rest" for months before final editing - a technique he compared to wine aging.