My story was Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling. This was referred to as a childrens nautical adventure story, but has entertained audiences for generations. The main character in the story was Harvey Cheyne. Harvey is the son of a millionaire and a snobbish little brat. He acts pretty big around the crew of the ship he was aboard. The next important character is Manuel. Manuel is a Portuguese boy about Harveys age, which by the way is in his pre to mid teens. Manuels dialogue helps add to a bit of comic relief. The next character is Dan. Dan is around Harveys age as well. Dan is the son of Disko Troop, the Captain of the Were Here. Speaking of Disko Troop, he is an honorable man who runs his ship well. He is very set in his ways. Throughout the story there were other characters that are referred to such as the cook, and some others.
At one time, I felt that Harvey would try to abandon ship, but instead he did not, and did something almost completely opposite.
Throughout the story, the major action and story takes place aboard the Were Here. The setting sets the tone for a true nautical story.
The relationship between Dan and his father is textbook. Disko Troop is pretty set in his ways and all that, while Dan follows instructions, but still leaves room to think and dream.
The theme seems to relate to our class, in that I feel that the overall theme was change and maturing. It seems that if there were any morals in this story it would be to not live only in what you are, that you make yourself into what you want to be.
I thought that even though written for children, Captains Courageous could be enjoyable for people of all ages, especially those interested in nautical stories and the old sailors lifestyle.
Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India, on December 30, 1865, the son of John Lockwood Kipling, a noted artist, and Alice Macdonalod Kipling. He was sent to school in England, and upon his return to India, at the age of seventeen, became a sub-editor of the Labore Civil and Military Gazette.
In 1887, he published Plain Tales from the Hills, a collection of stories about India. During the next two years, he brought out, in slim, paper-backed volumes, Soldiers Three, The Story of the Gadsbys, In Black and White, Willie Winkie, which sold at a rupee apiece. These stories, along with the unforgettable Soldiers Three, all writen before Kipling reached the age of twenty-four, revealed a new master of fiction.
From 1887 to 1889, Kipling traveled to India, China, Japan, and America, from which countries he sent abck letters to his newspaper in Lahore. Reaching London in 1890, he found himself already famous. His first novel, the Light that Failed, was published that year, having first appeared in Lippincotts Magazine.
Before finally settling in England, Rudyard Kipling lived in the United States for four years. In 1892, he was married to Caroline Starr Balestier, with whose brother, Wolcott Balestier, he collaborated on Naulahka (1891), a novel about our American Indians.
It was during his stay in America that Kipling became interested in the Gloucester fishermen and put aside his work on Kim to begin Captains Courageous.
Kiplings best-known and most popular books, in addition to The Light that Failed, are The Jungle Book and The Other Jungle Book (1894-95), Captains Courageous (1897), and Kim (1901), considered by many critics to be the best picture of India ever written.
His most popular poem and he wrote many poems was The Recessional, written for Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee in 1897. In 1907, he received the Nobel award for literature.
He died in London on January 18, 1936, at the age of seventy.
I had heard about Captains Courageous from somewhere, but could not recall where. I continued searching the shelves for other books, but felt drawn back. Then I read the author. I thought it was neat that I had heard of him. With that I finally decided to read it. Also the fact that the book was just slightly over the minimum page requirement. I started reading it and was a little confused by the text. After a few pages I began understanding Kiplings use of letters to form slang words of sounds. With that understanding I was able to get into the story.In the beginning of the story there was a German who had a very prominent accent. I knew this from Kiplings use of words and anamonopeia.I felt compelled to finsih the story, but unfortuantely was unable to complete the entire book do to restrictions put on me by other activities. I started doing some research on the book and the author and was able to get a good idea of what was happening, will happen, and why.
It is my opinion that this story is appropriate for everyone and that if they like classics written by notable authors, that they should definitely check out Captains Courageous.
For a taste of some of the infamous dialogue I was referring to, here is an excerpt of one of the lines said by the German.
I know der breed. Ameriga is full of dot kind. I dell you you should imbort ropes ends free under your dariff.
Say, genelman, this is deader n mud. Cant we make a game of power between us?And yet another of the Germans lines.
Dot is der broper apparatus to smoke, my young friendt, he said, You vill dry it? Yes? Den you vill be efer so happy.
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