American Notes - Softcover

Dickens, Mr Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1533350590 ISBN 13: 9781533350596

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 1842

Synopsis

It is nearly eight years since this book was first published. I present it, unaltered, in the Cheap Edition; and such of my opinions as it expresses, are quite unaltered too. My readers have opportunities of judging for themselves whether the influences and tendencies which I distrust in America, have any existence not in my imagination. They can examine for themselves whether there has been anything in the public career of that country during these past eight years, or whether there is anything in its present position, at home or abroad, which suggests that those influences and tendencies really do exist. As they find the fact, they will judge me. If they discern any evidences of wrong-going in any direction that I have indicated, they will acknowledge that I had reason in what I wrote. If they discern no such thing, they will consider me altogether mistaken. Prejudiced, I never have been otherwise than in favour of the United States. No visitor can ever have set foot on those shores, with a stronger faith in the Republic than I had, when I landed in America. I purposely abstain from extending these observations to any length. I have nothing to defend, or to explain away. The truth is the truth; and neither childish absurdities, nor unscrupulous contradictions, can make it otherwise. The earth would still move round the sun, though the whole Catholic Church said No. I have many friends in America, and feel a grateful interest in the country. To represent me as viewing it with ill-nature, animosity, or partisanship, is merely to do a very foolish thing, which is always a very easy one; and which I have disregarded for eight years, and could disregard for eighty more.

About this title

About the Author:

Nobel prize-winning writer Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India, but returned with his parents to England at the age of five. Influenced by experiences in both India and England, Kipling s stories celebrate British imperialism and the experience of the British soldier in India. Amongst Kipling s best-known works are The Jungle Book, Just So Stories, and the poems Mandalay and Gunga Din. Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel prize for literature (1907) and was amongst the youngest to receive the award. Kipling died in 1936 and is interred in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Review:

"Prejudiced I am not and never have been, otherwise than in favour of the United States. I have many friends in America. I feel a grateful interest in the country. I hope and believe it will successfully work out a problem of the highest importance to the whole human race. To represent me as viewing America with ill-nature, coldness or animosity is merely, to do a very foolish thing; which is always a very easy one!" --Charles Dickens

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 1842
• ISBN 10: 1533350590
• ISBN 13: 9781533350596
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 174