Something of Myself - Classic Text | Alexandria
Something of Myself by Rudyard Kipling: more than a mere autobiography, it is a carefully constructed self-portrait, incomplete and enigmatic, offering glimpses into the life and mind of a literary titan while simultaneously guarding its deepest secrets. Often mistaken for a comprehensive life history, this work subtly challenges readers to seek the man behind the carefully crafted facade.
Published posthumously in 1937, Something of Myself arrived nearly half a century after Kipling’s initial literary successes. Yet, the origins of its creation remain somewhat hazy. While Kipling demonstrably worked on drafts in the years immediately preceding his death, references to autobiographical sketches appear in correspondence dating back to the early 1920s. This era, marked by a growing unease in Europe and shadowed by the recent horrors of the First World War (in which Kipling tragically lost his son), shaped a reflective mood that permeates the narrative.
Over time, interpretations of Something of Myself have shifted from viewing it simply as a source of biographical facts to an object of critical analysis, examining Kipling's self-mythologizing and selective disclosures. Biographers and literary scholars have grappled with its omissions and carefully chosen anecdotes, recognizing it as a performance, a crafting of legacy. The book delves into Kipling’s childhood experiences, his years in India, and the development of his literary career, but it dances around certain personal relationships and avoids direct engagement with controversial aspects of his political views. Intrigingly, the seemingly random sequence of incidents and reflections hints at a subconscious narrative, inviting readers to piece together a puzzle that Kipling deliberately left unfinished.
Kipling’s Something of Myself endures as a crucial text for understanding not only the author’s life but also the anxieties and aspirations of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Although published nearly a century ago, contemporary scholars continue to dissect this intricate memoir, finding reflections of present-day debates surrounding empire, identity, and the responsibilities of artistry. Is Something of Myself a sincere attempt at self-revelation or a masterful exercise in self-preservation, further cementing the very image it purports to unveil?