Nobel Prize–winning British author (1865–1936) best known for such colorful classics as Just So Stories, Captains Courageous, and The Jungle Book. ALS, one page both sides, 5 x 8, crossed-out Brown’s Hotel letterhead, June 6, 1885. Letter to Mr. St. John Mildmay. In full: “I don't know whether is was my handwriting or your Greek that has struck him dumb; but certain it is that I haven't had a word out of the Master since I sent him on your verses! I described it as the work of one unknown 'for the prevention of scandals.' What is to do? Will you write him? As to equivalents, if you will set yourself to render Tranturn's engineers notebook into Greek, you must expect trouble. But surely 'timbers' (or 'beam') is exact for 'girder.' I admit a certain difficulty as to 'macadam' but not 'concrete.' If the Romans had it the Greeks must have had it. And a 'stress that starts a rivet' might be 'a blow that loosens a helmet.' No, I don't think the beasts & birds know that they toil. Cat, Tiger, Spider, and the rest are, for an instant, frustrated in a pounce or a web; and your dog may miss his rabbit. But even a dog doesn't sit down & realize 'Oh, Cerberus I've been barking up the wrong tree, half my life.' Does he? It's us have that bitter knowledge. Your daughter's offer is most kindly but I'm afraid that I shan't be able to be free for those dates; & indeed any at the end of the month. I know that my son-in-law is going for all three days, he came to Batemans for it, and I have heard a good deal of the beauties of the setting of Glyndbourne. If you put on Shakespeare as I hear is possible next year it will be glorious!” In very good condition, with intersecting mailing folds, with a heavier crease and light skinning along right edge of reverse, and some light toning and scattered soiling.
Thankfully, Kipling did not reserve his wonderful prose simply for his publisher! At this letter attests, the author not only advises Mildway about potential hazards in creating Greek translations of certain works, but also renders phrases like “Oh, Cerberus I've been barking up the wrong tree, half my life.” Mildmay, the recipient of Kipling’s thoughts, held a variety of jobs in his lifetime, including lecturing on classic literature at the University of Columbia, and had sent Kipling a Greek translation of Hymn of Breaking Strain. Wonderful, unpublished prose from a literary master! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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