Kipling Sex Claim Rubbished (Press, 8 February 1989)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Kipling Sex Claim Rubbished (Press, 8 February 1989)
On 8 February 1989, a controversy emerged regarding the sexual orientation of renowned British author Rudyard Kipling. The discussion was sparked by Martin Seymour-Smith, a biographer who claimed in his new book "Kipling" that Kipling was homosexual. Seymour-Smith suggested that understanding Kipling's sexuality is essential to appreciating his literary works, in which themes of boyhood heroism are prevalent. He posited that Kipling may have had relationships with boys during his time at school and in India, as well as with Wolcott Balestier, an American with whom Kipling collaborated on the novel "Naulahka." Seymour-Smith theorised that Balestier had misled his sister, Caroline (whom Kipling eventually married in 1892), into believing that marriage could rectify Kipling's alleged homosexual tendencies. The assertion from Seymour-Smith was met with sharp rebuttal from Dr A. L. Rowse, an 85-year-old historian and noted author of works on historical homosexuality. Rowse characterised the allegations as "nonsense and very silly," asserting that there is no substantial evidence to support the claim that Kipling was homosexual. He termed Seymour-Smith's comments a rather "pathetic attempt" to offer new insights about Kipling's character and insisted that they lacked credible backing. This exchange highlights the tension between different interpretations of historical figures, particularly in relation to their personal lives and how those may inform their creative output. The discussion reflects broader societal attitudes towards sexuality and the interpretation of literary genius in the context of their private lives.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand