Plain Tales from the Hills

This collection of short stories offers a vivid portrayal of life in British India during the late 19th century. The tales blend humor, pathos, and sharp social observations, providing insight into the complexities of colonial rule and the relationships between the British and the local populations. With its rich characters and memorable vignettes, it showcases Kipling’s early mastery of storytelling and his deep understanding of India.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist best known for tales of British soldiers in India, and his children’s stories, including Gunga Din, The Man Who Would Be King, Kim, Just So Stories, and The Jungle Book. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. Plain Tails from the Hills is the first collection of Kipling’s short stories, many of which are set in the Hill Station of Simla -- the summer capital of the British Raj during the hot weather.