Book Review: Captains Courageous
Captains Courageous
By Rudyard Kipling
I like Kipling and I have a strong memory of holding this book in my hands in one of those hardcover school editions without a dust jacket but it turns out I somehow never got around to reading this before.
I don't think I would have liked this as much as a child. I know I wouldn't have appreciated the characterization and the way Kipling gently mocks certain elements of human nature. I also remember thinking of it as a "boy's book" so that was another strike against it at the time.
The book traces the adventures of Harvey, a spoiled 15-year-old son of a multi-millionaire, after he falls overboard from the liner he is traveling on an is rescued by the crew of the We're Here, a fishing boat out of Gloucester. They have just set out for the season and the Captain refuses to turn back to take Harvey to shore. He thinks Harvey is crazy when he claims that his father will pay them several times what their catch would be worth if he does so he knocks the boy on his butt for his own good and puts him to work.
The book is over a hundred years old and while some of it seems modern in outlook there are signs of the times it was written in. Even though the ships cook, the main black character is shown in a good light he is still referred to in language that would be offensive these days and the way his story plays out isn't very enlightened either. That a man of his sensitivity should have as his ultimate ambition to be a personal servant just doesn't seem right. But then I have no problem with other iconic wise servants such as Alfred Pennyworth who happen to be White so how much of that reaction is justified and how much is conditioned response? Hard to say really, I'd love another perspective on it.
The plot has some real weaknesses especially towards the end but it was such a pleasure to spend time with the crew of the We're Here that I find it hard to care. Each of the crew has his own story and defined personality and a lot of my enjoyment came from getting to know them all.
I'd recommend this to anyone of any age but if you give it to your kids I would advise discussing with them the cultural and racial issues raised instead of letting them read it in a vacuum.
By Rudyard Kipling
I like Kipling and I have a strong memory of holding this book in my hands in one of those hardcover school editions without a dust jacket but it turns out I somehow never got around to reading this before.
I don't think I would have liked this as much as a child. I know I wouldn't have appreciated the characterization and the way Kipling gently mocks certain elements of human nature. I also remember thinking of it as a "boy's book" so that was another strike against it at the time.
The book traces the adventures of Harvey, a spoiled 15-year-old son of a multi-millionaire, after he falls overboard from the liner he is traveling on an is rescued by the crew of the We're Here, a fishing boat out of Gloucester. They have just set out for the season and the Captain refuses to turn back to take Harvey to shore. He thinks Harvey is crazy when he claims that his father will pay them several times what their catch would be worth if he does so he knocks the boy on his butt for his own good and puts him to work.
The book is over a hundred years old and while some of it seems modern in outlook there are signs of the times it was written in. Even though the ships cook, the main black character is shown in a good light he is still referred to in language that would be offensive these days and the way his story plays out isn't very enlightened either. That a man of his sensitivity should have as his ultimate ambition to be a personal servant just doesn't seem right. But then I have no problem with other iconic wise servants such as Alfred Pennyworth who happen to be White so how much of that reaction is justified and how much is conditioned response? Hard to say really, I'd love another perspective on it.
The plot has some real weaknesses especially towards the end but it was such a pleasure to spend time with the crew of the We're Here that I find it hard to care. Each of the crew has his own story and defined personality and a lot of my enjoyment came from getting to know them all.
I'd recommend this to anyone of any age but if you give it to your kids I would advise discussing with them the cultural and racial issues raised instead of letting them read it in a vacuum.
posted by Ranuel | 8:55 PM
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