Kim
First Canadian edition, 1901First publication
1900–1901, serialized in McClure's Magazine
First book publication
1901
Literary form
Novel
Genres
Literary, espionage, adventure
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Approx. 127,500 words
Notable lines
He sat in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam-Zammeh, on her old platform, opposite the old Ajaibgher—the Wonder House, as the natives called the Lahore Museum.
— First line
As he reached the years of indiscretion, he learned to avoid missionaries and white men of serious aspect who asked who he was, and what he did. For Kim did nothing with an immense success.
He began in Urdu the tale of the Lord Buddha, but, borne by his own thoughts, slid into Tibetan and long-droned texts from a Chinese book of the Buddha's life. The gentle, tolerant folk looked on reverently. All India is full of holy men stammering gospels in strange tongues; shaken and consumed in the fires of their own zeal; dreamers, babblers, and visionaries: as it has been from the beginning and will continue to the end.
He crossed his hands on his lap and smiled, as a man may who has won Salvation for himself and his beloved.
— Last line
