Rudyard Kipling was a British author and poet, born on 30 December 1865 in Bombay, British India. He is best known for his works of fiction such as The Jungle Book (1894) and Kim (1901). Kipling was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer, and his experiences in India greatly inspired his work.

Kipling's children's books, including the Just So Stories (1902), are enduring classics of children's literature. His short stories, such as "The Man Who Would Be King" (1888), showcase his innovation in the art of storytelling.

In addition to prose, Kipling wrote notable poems like "Mandalay" (1890), "Gunga Din" (1890), "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" (1919), "The White Man's Burden" (1899), and "If—" (1910). He was recognized as a significant literary figure during his time, receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, becoming the first English-language writer to receive the award and the youngest recipient at that time.

Kipling declined several honors, including the British Poet Laureateship and a knighthood. After his death on 18 January 1936, his ashes were interred at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Although his reputation has varied with changing political and social climates, Kipling is acknowledged as a controversial yet exceptional interpreter of the British Empire. His narrative talents continue to be celebrated, making him a substantial figure in literary history.