Kim - Rudyard Kipling
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Kim

by
Language
English
Published in
Publisher
Simon & Brown
Pages
354
ISBN
9781613826911
Orphaned in the bustling streets of late 19th-century Lahore, young Kimball O'Hara, known as Kim, navigates British India with a chameleon's ease, his Irish heritage masked by a deeply ingrained understanding of local customs and languages. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters an elderly Tibetan lama on a profound spiritual quest for the fabled River of the Arrow. Kim, drawn by adventure and a burgeoning sense of purpose, becomes the lama's disciple, embarking on a journey across the vibrant and diverse Indian subcontinent.

As their paths intertwine, Kim finds himself increasingly enmeshed in "The Great Game," the clandestine struggle between the British and Russian empires for influence in Central Asia. Recruited by the British Secret Service, he begins to hone his natural talents for observation and disguise, balancing his spiritual loyalty to the lama with the dangerous demands of espionage. This coming-of-age narrative explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the intricate clash of cultures, offering a vivid portrayal of a complex world where spiritual enlightenment meets geopolitical intrigue.

Subjects

Original edition details

Kim Originally published in 1950
Original language
English
Original publisher Modern Library

Other editions (847)