Kipling adopted it as his personal seal, often incorporating an elephant, fairly early in his career and it appeared on every edition of his books for decades. Not dated but generally believed to be around 1912. The swastika is an ancient indoeuropean religious symbol with the earliest known example. Rudyard kipling in the middle of his career, well before the nazi party was formed, kipling chose the swastika as a personal symbol because of its ancient indian connotations of good luck and wellbeing. Scanned image of the swastika logo from a rudyard kipling book a 1911 edition of puck of pooks hill. The swastika many of rudyard kiplings older books have a swastika printed on their covers, which has led to many claiming that he is racist. Why does my rudyard kipling book have a swastika in it. Just so stories by rudyard kipling, blue coverwith a. I didnt look to see if it was written in german, but the cover and title page were in english. Many of rudyard kiplings older books have a swastika printed on their covers, which has led to many claiming that he is racist.
Rudyard kipling books biography and list of works author. The show looked a little infantile and frankly, i didnt really get it. The original swastika as you call it is just one version of what a swastika might look like there are countless styles with and without dots, tilted different ways, and facing different directions i am speaking as a professor who specializes in hinduism and indian culture. A question frequently asked of the society concerns the presumption that kipling s use of the swastika meant that he allied himself to the nazi cause. Very good condition, red with embossed gilt imprinting, with the ornate palm tree stamped on the cover.
Swastikas appeared on the spines of books by the angloindian writer rudyard kipling, and the symbol was used by robert badenpowells boy scout movement. The light that failed, rudyard kipling vol five swastika. The sahib edition of kipling s works are also known as the swastika edition asiatic not german as there are numerous swastikas decades before the german usage are gilded on the spine and title page of each volume. All three had the nazi type swastika on the title page. See all books authored by rudyard kipling, including just so stories for little children, and the jungle book, and more on. Joseph rudyard kipling 30 december 1865 18 january 1936 was an english author and poet. A lovely first uk, first impression edition copy of rudyard kipling s kim. It is used as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through timesmachine. The dark plum covered cloth is clean and generally unworn although there is a little fraying to the spine tips and volume i has a small repaired crack the the lower part of the spine.
The swastika many of rudyard kipling s older books have a swastika printed on their covers, which has led to many claiming that he is racist. They usually have a nice, bright red cover with gilded. May 19, 20 series of books by rudyard kipling frank f. The red textured hard cover had an intriguing gold embossed medallionlooking feature in. Til that early editions of the jungle book todayilearned. The angloindian author rudyard kipling 18651936, who was strongly influenced by indian culture, used a swastika as his personal emblem on the covers and flyleaves of many editions of his books, along with the elephant, signifying his affinity with india. In the west it is most known for its controversial usage as a nazi symbol.
Rudyard kipling was born on 30 december 1865 in bombay, in the bombay presidency of british india, to alice kipling nee macdonald and john lockwood kipling. In southeast asia, the swastika is an ancient symbol of good luck and wellbeing. The untold story of kiplings american years, by christopher benfey penguin press, 256 pp. It is published by macmillan in 1915 and is a collection of stories by rudyard kipling. The kipling journal itself used a frame of black swastikas on its red cover until issue number 36, published in december 1935. Nobel prizewinning author rudyard kipling used swastika emblems in published versions of his books. British use of the fylfot swastika in the early 20th. Half black leather over light green cloth, spines in six compartments separated by raised bands, gilt lettering and borders in two compartments, swastika decoration and floral tooling in remainder, t. Kipling went to france to try to locate his son but returned unsuccessful. The truth is that the swastika is an indian sign of good luck, often used by hindu traders on their account books.
Theyre a great, inexpensive collectors item and practically everyone has one. In fact, kipling used the swastika simply because it was an indian sun symbol conferring good luck and wellbeing. Rare books by rudyard kipling, including first edition, signed first edition, and finely bound copies of the jungle book, justso stories, and kim, and handsome sets of his collected works. All jain temples and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typically begin and end with creating. One of kipling s just so stories, the crab that played with the sea, had an elaborate fullpage illustration by kipling including a stone bearing what was called a. Book cover is in good condition stamped with swastika. By the early twentieth century it was regarded worldwide as a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness.
Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Thats not the nazi swastika reddit, dont freak out. In the east it is most known for its usage as a hindu, buddhist and jain symbol of auspiciousness. Kipling is best known for his novel the jungle book, however he was a prolific writer of read more. Rudyard kipling, english shortstory writer, poet, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of british imperialism, his tales and poems of british soldiers in india, and his tales for children. Previously, i only knew about the jungle book if it was the disney movie, which i didnt even watch. The kipling swastika ever one to judge a book by its cover, this book in andrew reids bookcase, caught my eye. The sahib edition of rudyard kipling complete in ten. In the middle of his career, well before the nazi party was formed, kipling chose the swastika as a personal symbol because of its ancient. It is a pocket book with an elephant on the cover and what looks to be a swastika in the top left corner. One might see it on jewelry or painted on elephants. The collected poems of rudyard kipling wordsworth poetry.
The untold story of kipling s american years, by christopher benfey penguin press, 256 pp. The red textured hard cover had an intriguing gold embossed medallionlooking feature in the middle. Rudyard kiplings uncomfortable association with the. Scanned image of the swastika logo from a rudyard kipling book a 1911 edition of puck of pooks hill thanks badge used in scouting asea logotype before 1933. Since the 1930s this has raised the suspicion of kipling being a nazisympathiser, though the nazi party did not adopt the swastika until 1920. Embossed in gold on the cover is a swastika, a hindu. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the swastika was used in commerce. Ironically, three decades later, a social irritant in germany usurped a reverse of kipling s symbol, the swastika, as an. Many older editions of rudyard kipling s books have a swastika printed on their covers associated with a picture of the elephantheaded hindu god ganesha, which since the 1930s has raised the possibility of kipling being mistaken for a nazisympathiser. Rudyard kipling books list of books by author rudyard kipling. Set of 8 rudyard kipling sahib edition books swastika. The following journal in march 1936 was, of course, kiplings obituary number and the swastika frame was replaced by a thick black line of mourning.
Many older editions of rudyard kiplings books have a swastika printed on their covers associated with a picture of the elephantheaded hindu god ganesha, which since the 1930s has raised the possibility of kipling being mistaken for a nazisympathiser, though the nazi party did not adopt the swastika until 1920. Kipling bars swastika on cover of next book the new york. In the novel the great gatsby, the story of which takes place during the roaring. The inside cover has a printed circle with a swastika and kipling s signature inside the cir. In the middle of his career, well before the nazi party was formed, kipling chose the swastika as a personal symbol because of its ancient indian. Rudyard kipling books list of books by author rudyard. The jungle book scholastic junior classics by jane b. With the rise of nazism, kipling ceased to use the swastika.
Before the nazi party adopted the swastika and turned it into the most potent. The collected poems of rudyard kipling wordsworth poetry library. Nov 21, 2007 the kipling swastika ever one to judge a book by its cover, this book in andrew reids bookcase, caught my eye. My boyfriend brought back this book from the uk, the jungle book. Letters on spine are faded and back binding is loose along with the. Rudyard kiplings uncomfortable association with the swastika. Fortunately it is easy to show that this is a misapprehension, and a number of articles in the early issues of the kipling journal explain the provenance of its use. Illustrated with plates by sir edward burnejones, reginal bolles, and w. Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century. The collected poems of rudyard kipling wordsworth poetry library rudyard kipling on. Kipling knew, also, that the hindu trader opens his annual accountbook with a swastika in order to ensure an auspicious beginning. Mason, sarah hines stephens, rudyard kipling and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. In 1926 rudyard kipling received the gold medal of the royal society for literature.
Due to the fact that many older editions of rudyard kipling s books have a swastika printed on their covers, at one time kipling was even accused of being a nazi sympathizer. My boyfriend brought back this book from the uk, the jungle book 1901. First post, was just given a copy of a book called just so stories by rudyard kipling, dated 1931. Rudyard kipling rudyard kipling biography poem hunter. Kipling stopped using the swastika after the 1920s. At that point, kipling ceased using it in his books. The swastika is inside a small black circle that also contains his name in cursive, and its easy to tell that it was printed there, not drawn. It is believed that the loss of two children is the reason why kipling never wrote another childrens book after this.
Others, we run across at practically every book fair and shop, like the early20th century copies of rudyard kiplings novels and poetry. He received the nobel prize for literature in 1907. Before his death and even before hitler was elected chancellor he dissociated himself from the symbol and condemned the nazi party. Alice one of the four noted macdonald sisters was a vivacious woman, of whom lord dufferin would say, dullness and mrs kipling cannot exist in the same room.
The sahib edition of rudyard kipling complete in ten volumes. After just a few minutes of online research, i discovered that. The swastika, introduced to europe from colonised india rudyard kipling, the indianborn british writer, put it on his book s dust jackets, was equated with the sanskritspeaking ancient vedic. Swastika poker chips, upper right, lower left in paramount pictures street of chance 1930 starring william powell and kay francis.
Jan, 2005 the swastika, introduced to europe from colonised india rudyard kipling, the indianborn british writer, put it on his book s dust jackets, was equated with the sanskritspeaking ancient vedic. Kiplings use of the swastika, however, was based on the signs ancient indian meaning of good. Each volume has a tissueprotected frontispiece as well as additional. Kiplings books did not have a swastika on them because he was a nazi, but rather because of his time in india and the indian influence seen in his writings. Ever one to judge a book by its cover, this book in andrew reids bookcase, caught my eye. Swastika is a symbol found in many cultures, with different significance. Rudyard kipling combined a swastika with his signature in a circle as a. Many older editions of rudyard kiplings books have a swastika printed on the cover, associated with a picture of an elephant carrying a lotus flower, reflecting the influence of indian culture.
The british author rudyard kipling, who was strongly influenced by indian culture, had a swastika as his personal moniker on the covers and flyleaves of many editions of his books until the rise of nazism made this inappropriate. Rudyard kipling 18651936 was a british author whose work was heavily influenced by colonialism. Many older editions of rudyard kipling s books have a swastika printed on their covers associated with a picture of an elephant carrying a lotus flower. Feb 10, 2011 in the middle of his career, well before the nazi party was formed, kipling chose the swastika as a personal symbol because of its ancient indian connotations of good luck and wellbeing. Up for bid is an 8 voulme set of rudyard kipling works. The british author and poet rudyard kipling used the symbol on the cover art of a number of his works, including. Kiplings books did not have a swastika on them because he was a nazi, but rather because of his time in india and the indian influence seen in. Til that early editions of the jungle book feature a swastika and a picture of an elephant carrying a lotus flower on the cover, reflecting the influence of indian culture in kipling s work.
Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century wikipedia. The sahib edition of kiplings works are also known as the swastika edition asiatic not german as there are numerous swastikas decades before the german usage are gilded on the spine and title page of each volume. Kipling bars swastika on cover of next book the new york times. Kiplings use of the swastika was based on the indian sun symbol conferring good luck and the sanskrit word meaning fortunate or wellbeing. A lovely first uk, first impression edition copy of rudyard kiplings kim. Kim the worlds best reading by kipling, rudyard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kipling adopted it as his personal seal, often incorporating an elephant, fairly early in his career and it appeared on every edition of his books.