It was within a few days of the holidays, the term-end examinations, and, more important still, the issue of the College paper which Beetle edited. Read Stalky & Co. , free online version of the book by Rudyard Kipling, on ReadCentral.com. But since the young people of the school in the book were all being trained up to be cannon-fodder, perhaps that was an appropriate way of rearing boys. I know I thouroughly enjoyed it, and this particular edition is still on my shelf almost 30 years later, along with a copy of the Complete Stalky. It was first published in 1899, following serialisation in the Windsor Magazine.. At first I could not get the hang of the dialogues in it but the setting of the story helped me a lot as it is a school. The cynicism of Stalky & Co was what surprised me most. With an average reading speed of 420 words per minute, you will finish reading this book in about 3 … There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Did it all for the best." Women don't feature in the story at all, except as a means of humiliating one of the characters and to be put in their place by Kipling as only having one role in life. Implied throughout the book is the question 'What happened to the fifteen-year boys, and how did the lessons they learned at school apply to the world of warfare and imperial government?' Victorian schoolboys (at least, the ones in Victorian school stories) seem to have been tougher customers that their twentieth-century equivalents. As I was rereading it now, decades later, I understand better how my own naive perceptions of the world were formed, It is the quintessential English public-school novel. "We 'aven't, sir. Stalky is the leader who can worm his way out of any trouble because of his expertise in spoken language. Read initially as part of my quest to discover what got the nineteenth century reading, this will go straight to my must-read-again stack. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It is a series of loosely linked japes but the final chapter brings deeper meaning to the frolics. Stalky is the leader who can worm his way out of any trouble because of his expertise in spoken language. My friend loves the book and I'm also a fan of boarding-school stories. my notebook informs me that I read this in 1986 - for at least the second time - the BBC TV adaptation may have had something to do with it. This was something of an anti-climax to what was a challenging read; so close to my own experiences in a West Country minor boarding school - especially the language despite a hundred years between Beetle and me - and yet so alien. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Stalky & Co. Stalky and his two friends, Beetle and McTurk, attend an English bording school during the mid 19th century. Stalky & Co. is a book of Boarding School stories by Rudyard Kipling, featuring the exploits of Guile Hero Stalky and his pals Beetle and M'Turk. *** STALKY & CO (1899) is a hugely successful fictional re-creation of Rudyard Kipling's half dozen years as a boarder at the United Services College on the seacoast of North Devon at Westward Ho! It took me a long while to finish that thin book. If you have any question about this novel, Please don't hesitate to contact us or translate team. Stalky and Co summary is updating. The Stalky saga is one of Kipling’s great imaginative achievements. I have read this book so many times that it has become dog eared and stained and creased along all the best pages - the mark of a favourite. One of my absolute favorite books when I was a child, though I understood perhaps a half of the language and little of the context. A friend asked me if I'd read this and I hadn't... so pleased I did. “Ye've a furtive look in your eye - a furtive, sneakin', poachin' look in your eye, that 'ud ruin the reputation of an archangel!”, “Well-meanin' man. 1962. We’d love your help. It's something about the wording; I can see it all. Tagged as Rudyard Kipling, Stalky and Co. By John Sercer. I buried my head in Rudyard Kipling’s novel Stalky & Co. I buried my head in Rudyard Kipling’s novel Stalky & Co. Reread because YT reminded me it existed. These stories are based on Kipling's own schooling, the United Services Coll. 20. You make me double check my doors at night. And yet I still enjoy the book. I loved it when I was eight (apparently it did not bother me that entire conversations were incomprehensible on account of French, Latin, 19th century slang or all three) and enjoyed actually understanding the French, Latin and historical references (well, being able to google them, anyway) this time around. One of the most influential books of my life, first read at age 14. What a wonderful book. The cynicism of Stalky & Co was what surprised me most. He is quite witty. Stalky & Co. is a faithful adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name (less one chapter and the afterstory chapter). However I enjoyed this reading a lot, feeling as if I were living the adventures with stalky and his companions. Stalky & Co. is a popular book by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling has a contempt for cant. I discovered it at about the age of 11 or so and I read and re-read it till my copy practically fell apart. LibriVox recording of Stalky & Co., by Rudyard Kipling. "Head in a drain-pipe. in succession, Stalky, McTurk, and Beetle (this was before they reached the dignity of a study) had built like beavers a place of retreat and meditation, where they smoked. I tried, believe me, I did it. 4, 2002 Stalky & Co.: the Adversarial Curriculum JIM MACKENZIE A comparison between two teachers drawn from fiction leads to an exploration of the issues between those whose concept of education is focused on the curriculum, and those who understand that pupils are active agents in their education and that therefore some beneficial outcomes can result … This book contains 73781 words. John Sercer was born and raised in Fort Scott, Kansas. Some light marking. 18. Set at an English boarding school in a seaside town on the North Devon coast. I think during WW2 it was an important part of his strength. Rudyard Kipling's Stalky & Co. consists of 9 parts for ease of reading. Choose the part of Stalky & Co. which you want to read from the table of contents to get started. Read by Tim Bulkeley. Every chapter I managed to finish left a bad taste in my mouth. "A good drill--and good material to drill. No wonder we ran an Empire. Pictorial paper cover. Like most British writers of that twilight-of-the-British-Empire era, Kipling could not, would not take on sexuality. I loved it when I was eight (apparently it did not bother me that entire conversations were incomprehensible on account of French, Latin, 19th century slang or all three) and enjoyed actually understanding the French, Latin and historical references (well, being able to google them, anyway) this time around. Kipling writes like an angel and perfectly captures the glee of a clever teenager who outwits those he despises but is capable of recognising heroism in those he admires. I loved this book as a child. has most likely grown up to be the hero of the frickin' universe. Stalky, McTurk, and Beetle conspire against their masters, cheat, bully their superiors, and exact revenge against the sanctimonious with a ferocious joy that makes them eternally appealing. Part 43 Aug-20-17. But what are you complaining about, you giddy basket-hanger? 231 pages. Never mind that Kipling's worldview is irredeemably skewed. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published The Stalky saga is one of Kipling’s great imaginative achievements. It took a little getting into; the language is, of course, a little dated and some of the attitudes, too, are not what we would expect these days. It's one of those rare books which can make you cry with laughing then five minutes later cry for the pity of things. Reread because YT reminded me it existed. My most favourite would have to be Baa Baa Blacksheep (i Along with The Light That Failed, Stalky is one of Kipling's autobiographical novels, and it's the best by far. Loses a star for colonialism and one bit of astounding narrative sexism, egregious even for the era, that makes me throw the book across the room ev. Stalky & Co. by Rudyard Kipling, unknown edition, This is a collection of short stories about adolescent boys at a British boarding school. Stalky is available for download on BigBoss Cydia repo for $1.99 . For anyone who dreamed of going to boarding school, or dreamed of going back to the 19th century, or both. I thought Stalky was going to die, but he wandered into Flashman novel instead. (The town, Westward Ho!, is not only unusual in having an exclamation mark, but also in being itself named after a novel, by Charles Kingsley.) Now, there was nothing in their characters as known to Mr. Prout, Loses a star for colonialism and one bit of astounding narrative sexism, egregious even for the era, that makes me throw the book across the room every time. superb, took me right back to my own school days when I was directly involved (from both sides) in those kinds of stunts. Summary Stalky & Co. is a book, published in 1899 (following serialization in the Windsor Magazine ) by Rudyard Kipling, about adolescent boys at a British boarding school. That smart-mouthed bully who used to get away with cheating, lying, and throwing spitballs at your head during Chem. WSC did get to Sandhurst, and maintained an anachronistic belief in the values of Empire most of his life. Never mind that Kipling's worldview is irredeemably skewed. An absolute must. He is quite witty. Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Having recently read a biography of Winston Churchill, I was struck by the similarities in the two men's (WSC & RK) educational experiences. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable Welcome back. ———-Stalky & co is the ultimate boy's boarding school book for me . Matter of fact about life and death, a reminder in this therapist addicted age, that life can be viewed very differently. I blame the boarding school system, which took boys at age 8 or nine and stunted their emotional development -. I read it sometime in my teens. I thought Stalky was going to die, but he wandered into Flashman novel instead. If Enid Blyton's numerous school stories reigned my childhood, then Stalky is the story I can continue to enjoy in my adulthood. The Last Term. Making all the girls bug out and try to get away from you because you are so weird and eww. Some folks might think it a lamentable influence, with the three protagonists creatively breaking every school rule. Readers repelled by a strain of brutality—even… The casual brutality of the late nineteenth century really comes through in this novel. Beetle on the other hand is a poet who vents his emotions on paper or anything he can write his thoughts on. It's devilishly funny & one of my favourite Kipling's work. Rudyard Kipling published Stalky & Co. in 1899. If Enid Blyton's numerous school stories reigned my childhood, then Stalky is the story I can continue to enjoy in my adulthood . A fascinating window on a lost era, when Empire was "a good thing" and fagging was character-building, toughening one up and engendering respect for hierarchy. M’Turk is a placid guy who storms up when triggered and he has a great aptitude in Latin. Still my favourite edition of this book. Boys will be boys. To see what your friends thought of this book. The characters returned in five more stories over subsequent decades, which were included in The Complete Stalky & Co. in 1929. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Great fun to read, great memories and a poignant ending. One way to look at Kipling's fiction: there is always a lot more Rudyard in it than you might suspect. Maurice and Alec are fighting on the Western Front and their future seems rather bleak. Stalky and Co. Summary. Pimply, pompous, devious, disrespectful teenagers may not be your idea of the Three Musketeers, yet that's exactly who they are - before they meet women. Lingering about and acting creepy, in general. Kipling himself appears as the central character called Beetle and through him shows how school is a pattern-maker for the experiences of life. These stories are based on Kipling's own schooling, the United Services College at Westward Ho! The novel collects the nine best short stories (out of fourteen) of a trio of outsiders who nonetheless exert immense influence at their school by virtue of brains, cunning, and generally being "cool". Now, it's an extraordinary thing: I've been lunching with your head-master and he never told me you had a cadet-corps in the College." First published in 1899, Stalky and Co. is a collection of school stories based on Kipling's own experiences at the United Services College. Based on Kipling's own adolescent experiences, Stalky and Co. is a cunning story of mischievous 19th century British schoolboys attempting scholastic mutiny. It took me a long while to finish that thin book. M’Turk is a placid guy wh. They don't take their studies very seriously and spend most of their time waging war on their professors. What a wonderful book. Difficult read now as life and language are so different,but a glorious romp through a harsh school life that these boys relished! This small collection puts together stories by Kipling that feature the characters from Stalky & Co. but which for some reason were not included in the book Stalky & Co. Of these the more interesting is the first, "Stalky", which introduces the characters and is full of the humour and understanding of adolescent males and their timeless jostling with adult powers that characterise the … Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Dear old Stalky, dear old M'Turk, and "the egregious Beetle." Kipling appears to be freighted with controversey. So get hooked on and start relishing Stalky & Co. overview and detailed summary. This chapter gives us a surprising insight into what young men raised in military families in a time of permanent active service might actually feel about the symbols under which they are expected to serve: jingoism it is not. I was still re-reading it at university. Stalky--Stalky in deadly fear lest his voice should crack. Be the first to ask a question about Stalky & Co. 36, No. As I was rereading it now, decades later, I understand better how my own naive perceptions of the world were formed, One of my absolute favorite books when I was a child, though I understood perhaps a half of the language and little of the context. It's one of those rare books which can make you cry with laughing then five minutes later cry for the pity of things. 19. It is a series of loosely linked japes but the fi. I first read Stalky & Co. in middle school, and it was like a Victorian X-men. Readers repelled by a strain of brutality—even…. The faculty and headmaster of a boys' private school repeatedly pursue a trio of poetic pranksters, "Stalky", "Beetle", and "Turkey", as they wage war on fellow students and the "establishment" with unwavering energy and creativity. Hope you enjoy it. Implied throughout the book is the question 'What happened to the fifteen-year boys, and how did the lessons they learned at school apply to the world of warfare and imperial government?' The story revolves around this three…I repeat…three boys who excel in different fields but do not run out of naughtiness. Kipling’s novel, Stalky and Co., illustrates this process with taste… and, with a wisdom born of the good naughty. Kipling writes like an angel and perfectly captures the glee of a clever teenager who outwits those he despises but is capable of recognising heroism in those he admires. Kipling portrays school as the first stage of a much larger game, a pattern maker for the experiences of life. Every kid who´s ever been considered a nerd can identify with it - and even learn a few positive things. It´s also about underdogs fighting back - underdogs who read Ruskin and Browing and the English Opium Eater. The College servants all appear in Stalky & Co. under their own names - John Short the bell-ringer, Richards and Gumbley the house-servants, Oke the common-room butler, and Lena the laundry-maid. That said, Stalky & Co. is one of those small masterpieces rarely read-more the pity. Language: English Words: 7,672 Chapters: 1/1 Comments: 24 Kudos: 38 Bookmarks: 6 Hits: 3303 December 21st 2005 Stalky views 2,192,211 updated Mar 10 2021 Stalky nickname of Lionel Corkran, the leader of three schoolboys in Kipling's Stalky & Co (1899); the name implies the character's high degree of stealth and cunning, and had originally belonged to Kipling's schoolfriend Lionel ‘Stalky’ Dunsterville. Common terms and phrases. A different world and unfashionable but really enjoyable. in Devon. Read initially as part of my quest to discover what got the nineteenth century reading, this will go straight to my must-read-again stack. Then, a brigadier, who might just be their salvation, lands in the sap one night when Alec’s on sentry duty. Stalky Corkran; M'Turk (Stalky) Crossover; Drama; Humor; Hurt/Comfort; Summary. Kipling & Co. in the USC Chronicle Roger Lancelyn Green The later USC story See also two articles by Hugh Brogan in KJ 176 (Dec 1970) and KJ 177 (March 1971). 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