The 1880s and 1890s: It is the zenith of British power in the world. The sun literally never sets on the empire. Queen Victoria sits on the throne. It is the British Raj in India. Imperialism is becoming a widely accepted political philosophy and practice.
If there is one writer, one author who is most associated with the high-water mark of British dominance, it would be Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). Today he might be most remembered for being listed in the credits of the Disney movie “The Jungle Book,” or possibly as the author of the father-to-son poem “If.” But in his lifetime, he was one of the most popular writers in Britain, producing stories about India and British expansionism, children’s stories – and poems. He was even sounded out about becoming Britain’s poet laureate – and he turned it down.
Growing up, I read Just So Stories, Kim, Captains Courageous, The Jungle Book and even some of his poems, like “Gunga Din” and “If.” These are stories and poems that appealed primarily to boys, with their excitement and mystery, celebration of manly virtues, and tales of war and battles, heroism and treachery.
Recently, I (voluntarily, sort of) accompanied by wife to a furniture and decorating store in a neighboring community. While she looked at chairs, I wandered about the store, and discovered a small table with a small pile of old books on it. Included in the pile was a 1900 edition of Kipling’s Barrack Room Ballads and Other Verses. The introduction, a short biographical sketch of Kipling, was written in that breathless admiration common to a lot of criticism and biographies at the time. The ballads were exactly what you might find soldiers reciting and singing as they whiled away the hours stationed in remote parts of the empire – stories of lovers, heroic comrades, rather incompetent military leaders, thoughts of home and similar themes.
The “other verses” of the volume were not ballads but they were poems with similar subjects, except perhaps for one, found near the end. In its own way, it is a kind a commentary on what would happen to the empire, as what happens with all empires, but it is also a prayer, with full knowledge of what is truly important in this life.
Recessional, a Victorian Ode
God of our fathers, known of old –
Lord of our far-flung battle line –
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine –
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies –
The Captains the Kings depart –
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away –
On dune and headland sinks the fire –
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power we loose
Wild tongues that have not thee in awe –
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law –
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard –
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen
Beautiful and prophetic, for sure. Just this past week I pulled an old book we inherited from my husband's parents many years ago off the shelves of our home library - "The Years Between" by Kipling. Quite surprised to find a swastika in his name stamp inside the cover, I was compelled to do a little research. You probably already know this, but Kipling recognized the swastika as a Hindu good luck symbol long before it was associated with Hitler. Sometime after the book we own was published in 1925, Kipling ordered that the swastika be removed after it had been "defiled beyond redemption" by Hitler.
Posted by: Patricia (Pollywog Creek) | February 22, 2012 at 04:42 AM
I remember reading all the Just So Stories, The Jungle Book, and Gunga Din. They remain classics of their time.
Interesting side note from Patricia.
Posted by: Maureen E. Doallas | February 22, 2012 at 07:27 AM
I remember reading some of his poems, Glynn, and of course The Jungle Book, but not much else. Good to learn more. And, yes, that note from Patricia.
Posted by: laura | February 22, 2012 at 07:38 PM
Fascinating piece, Glynn, and Kipling himself was a fascinating contradiction. He certainly "believed" in the Empire whilst being able to see how often it failed those it claimed to protect.
The refrain "Lest we forget", is used as the theme of Remembrance Day on 11 November in Britain every year.
Posted by: JofIndia | February 23, 2012 at 04:35 AM