Rudyard Kipling is a name that I associate with The Jungle Book. I have read various renditions of that book and seen numerous movie adaptations as well. However I would be hard pressed to tell you anything else that Kipling wrote. So when I stumbled across this title I thought it was the perfect opportunity to see what else Kipling wrote about.
The story is a fairly simple one and Kipling does a good job of describing how Dick Heldar is feeling throughout the book. He is a brash young man with the world at his fingertips. He has traveled as a war correspondent and following an injury returns to England. He then crosses patches with his childhood sweetheart and instantly realizes that he is still in love with her.
She does not have the same feelings but she does want the success that he has achieved as an artist. She tells him that she won’t ever have feelings for him but wants his advice and help to become a better artist. He agrees thinking in time she will fall in love with him. The story takes a turn when she returns to France and he goes blind.
Overall the story did not have an ending I anticipated and it changes this book from a 2 star into a 3 star rating.
For 45 minutes Alexander rode in a helicopter while receiving a crash course on the historic sites of New York City. The ability to hover in the air while moving 110 miles per hour was surreal. He began to wonder if perhaps he had died on the battlefield and was now in some level of the afterlife. Everything was too extraordinary to believe.
As they were nearing the conclusion of their flight Alexander examined the topography below with a general’s eye.
“Where are your city’s defenses?”
“What are you talking about?” Sammy responded.
“What would prevent an invading army from laying siege to your city?”
“No one would ever invade us.”
“Such hubris makes it likely at some point.”
“The oceans protect us from our enemies and Canada is our ally. It would never happen.”
“Fascinating. I bet I would find a way to do it.”
“But why would you want to.”
“It is my destiny to create empires. This city would have to be conquered and rolled into my empire.”
“The United States Army is too powerful. You would never stand a chance.”
A half dozen battle plans were floating through his mind.
“I think I could do it.”
“Who are you?” Sammy asked.
“I already told you. I am the great king ...
