Rudyard Kipling: Rewards and Fairies

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was born in Bombay, and joined the staff of the 'Civil and Military Gazette' in Lahore in 1882. He began to make a name for himself through writing stories and verse, such as 'Departmental Ditties' (1886), 'Plain Tales from the Hills', 'Soldiers Three', and 'Wee Willie Winkie' (1888), before settling in London in 1889. He travelled widely, before establishing himself at Burwash in 1902. The publication of his novels 'The Light that Failed' (1891), 'Many Inventions' (1893), the 'Jungle Books' (1894-1895), and 'Captains Courageous' (1897) established his fame. His later work included 'Kim' (1901), the 'Just So Stories' for children (1902) and 'Recessional' (1897). 'Rewards and Fairies' was first published in 1910. Kipling was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1907.

The complete autograph MS of 'Rewards and Fairies', including the poems 'The Road through the Woods' and 'If', 118 folios. On the flyleaf: 'Presented to Cambridge University Library by The Author 1926 Rudyard Kipling'. With letters from Kipling to A. F. Scholfield (University Librarian), Burwash, 30 June 1926, and Kipling's secretary D. Gardner-Smith to Scholfield, Burwash, 21 July 1926; and with an envelope mis-addressed by Kipling to Scholfield as 'Bodley's Librarian' at 'The Bodleian / Oxford'.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Rudyard Kipling: Rewards and Fairies, MS Add.6850