Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936), commonly known as Rudyard Kipling, was an artist and a writer born in Bombay, Bombay Presidency province, in the former British India. Rudyard earned fame from his writing works that include creative short stories about the operations of British soldiers in India, children short stories, and novels on diverse topics. He is a reputable key figure in the art of short story, owing to his innovative works that have remained indispensable literary works. Kipling was inspired by the great works of Wilkie Collins, Daniel Defoe, and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Born in India, Rudyard was later moved to England by his family at the age of 5 where he lived with a foster family. His experience at the hands of the new family wasn’t a happy one, something that would later feature in his writings. He found his comfort in reading books and writing.
At some point in his life, his parents got to hear of his tribulations at the hands of the foster family. His parents came to his rescue. Rudyard was to later join Devon School where he took his writing more seriously, rising to the position of an editor of the school’s newspaper. Because he didn’t get an excellent score to earn him a scholarship to proceed to Oxford University, his parents helped him secure a job. Through his job, he was able to make money and enhance his writing skills. He later visited different countries including the US before settling back in England. While in England, his writing took an upward surge, making him one of the most respected writers in England at that time. Some of the works he produced around the end of 19th century and early 20th century include the “If” poem, “The Seven Seas,” and "Land and Sea Tales for Scouts and Guides." One of Rudyard Kipling's quotes that defined him is: “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”
