Rather a dreary book. A combination of biography and literary criticism, but heavily weighted towards criticism. Biographical details are hit and miss, not necessarily chronological, and as much (or more) based on the author's opinions, as facts. Some interesting photos, although most in the book are there to illustrate the time period, instead of Rudyard Kipling himself. Written for a British audience, of which, alas, I am not. So maybe that explains some of how the book came across to me. ( )