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The Rudyard Kipling Library

Rudyard Kipling

Step into a quiet corner of the Empire of Stories, where the lamp is lit and the pages turn at their own unhurried pace. This podcast offers full-length readings of Rudyard Kipling’s tales - of jungle law and soldier’s duty, of wandering men, sharp-eyed children, and the strange roads between East and West. Each episode is spoken clear and steady, as though by a fireside companion, carrying you through adventure, mischief, and moral alike. Come listen, traveller, and let the old words march again beneath the steady drum of a human voice.

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  • 91 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 15 min
  • English
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  • S25 · E6
    Yesterday · 21 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 6

    In which the delicate spirit and stern discipline of the Royal Navy are laid bare through the contrasts of flagship formality, the resolute camaraderie of the Gun-room, and the tireless, unseen toil of the engineers below decks. Against a backdrop of...

    • Transcript
  • S25 · E5
    Yesterday · 20 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 5

    In which the quiet dignity and camaraderie of naval life are revealed through the candid reflections of seasoned officers, the spirited debates of young lieutenants, and the seamless precision of landing parties and boat drills. The Fleet emerges as a...

    • Transcript
  • S25 · E4
    Thursday · 14 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 4

    In which a ship, having suffered a curious mishap, rejoins the majestic Fleet amidst the rugged coasts and sweeping waves of the Atlantic, revealing the comradely touch and steady hum of naval life. We are taken ashore to the emerald mistery of...

    • Transcript
  • S25 · E3
    Thursday · 18 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 3

    In which the speaker offers a vivid and affectionate glimpse into the daily life aboard a Royal Navy cruiser, capturing the intricate dance of signals, the camaraderie of the crew, and the nuanced rivalry among ships during manoeuvres off the British...

    • Transcript
  • S25 · E1
    Wednesday · 25 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 1

    In which a young cruiser and her spirited crew engage in diligent manoeuvres and coal replenishments amidst the lively camaraderie and precise discipline of naval service, revealing the intricate world of seamen and the delicate art of fleet...

    • Transcript
  • S25 · E2
    Wednesday · 21 min

    A Fleet In Being Chapter 2

    In which a squadron of cruisers, overshadowed by the colossal battleships Powerful and Terrible, engage in lively discussion and gunfire practice that reveals both the terrifying power and precision of modern naval weaponry. We are offered an intimate...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E30
    Tuesday · 2 min

    Debits and Credits Section 30 - The Burden

    In which the burden of unending grief and despair is intoned through the lament of a soul beset by shame, fear, and unavailing sorrow, each day a mirror of ceaseless pain. Yet amid this relentless affliction, a moment of divine compassion offers a...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E29
    Tuesday · 30 min

    Debits and Credits Section 29 - The Gardener

    In which a steadfast and candid woman, burdened by past sorrows and the loss of her young relative in the Great War, crosses the Channel to find solace and meaning amid the regimented rows of a military cemetery, where the weight of grief and...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E27
    Monday · 49 min

    Debits and Credits Section 27 - The Eye of Allah

    In which the devoted scribes of St. Illod’s prepare sacred texts with meticulous care, while John of Burgos—an artist and traveller—returns from Spain bearing new artistic inspirations and a mysterious instrument revealing unseen natural wonders that...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E26
    Sunday · 1 min

    Debits and Credits Section 26 - Untimely

    In which a sombre meditation unfolds on the burdens borne by those who bring forth knowledge and invention before their appointed hour, often meeting scorn and despair in a world unready for their gifts. The inevitable arrival of a destined time is...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E25
    Sunday · 4 min

    Debits and Credits Section 25 - The Supports

    In which the steadfast rhythms of daily toil and ancient custom are celebrated as the true supports that uphold human spirit amidst the weariness of life's burdens and the uncertainty of the dark unknown. The verse humbly honours the quiet powers of...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E24
    October 10 · 42 min

    Debits and Credits Section 24 - On the Gate

    In which the celestial realms grapple with the tumultuous influx of souls from the Great War, revealing the strains of divine bureaucracy and the delicate balance of mercy and judgement that guide the passage beyond life. As the guardians and wardens...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E23
    October 10 · 2 min

    Debits and Credits Section 23 - We and They

    In which a sprightly and ironic meditation explores the curious distinctions drawn by people who divide the world into "We" and "They," casting each other as alien and incomprehensible despite similar habits and manners. The verses gently unravel this...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E22
    October 9 · 33 min

    Debits and Credits Section 22 - A Friend of the Family

    In which a group of Brethren at Lodge “Faith and Works” gather to reflect on the strains of war and the peculiarities of a shy Australian soldier whose quiet presence belies a hidden skill in camouflage and loyalty. Through their evening’s...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E21
    October 9 · 3 min

    Debits and Credits Section 21 - A Legend of Truth

    In which the elusive Truth, long consigned to the depths of her well while her sister Fiction skilfully shaped the world’s narratives, is compelled to emerge once more amid the horrors of war, striving to recount facts too grim and bewildering to bear...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E20
    October 8 · 47 min

    Debits and Credits Section 20 - The Propagation of Knowledge

    In which we observe the lively and somewhat chaotic efforts of an Army Class wrestling with the rigours of English Literature under the watchful eye of their exacting tutor, Mr. King, whose impassioned defence of Shakespeare and the Augustan epoch...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E19
    October 8 · 2 min

    Debits and Credits Section 19 - The Birthright

    In which the narrator reflects with quiet wonder on the vast natural riches of the land, marveling at the precious stones and treasures that lie beneath the feet of its people, treasures too often taken for granted or carelessly squandered. There is a...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E18
    October 7 · 7 min

    Debits and Credits Section 18 - Gow's Watch Act V. Scene 3

    In which the realm lies in the aftermath of battle, and the Princess, newly recognised as Queen, contemplates the sacrifices and steadfast loyalties that have shaped her ascent, while the loyal servant Gow faces a poignant reckoning with the spirit of...

    • Transcript
  • S24 · E17
    October 7 · 33 min

    Debits and Credits Section 17 - A Madonna of the Trenches

    In which a London Masonic Lodge becomes a refuge for troubled ex-soldiers seeking solace and understanding after the War, under the watchful care of a kindly doctor who navigates the fraught memories and delicate minds of his brethren. Among them, a...

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 91 episodes