Captain Courageous (World Classics, Unabridged)

Captains Courageous is a story that follows fifteen year old Harvey Cheyne Jr through his adventures. He is the son of a wealthy railroad tycoon, and is spoiled and largely unaware of the ways of the world. When he is stranded on the shore of the Grand Banks after having been washed overboard from his transatlantic steamship, he meets the Captain of "We're Here" and has to accept a position on his ship. Harvey's adventures on the ship teach him about industry and consideration for others while Kipling weaves in themes of class differences and humility.

Rudyard Kipling (1865 1936) was a British author and poet who was born in Bombay, British India. As seen by his evocative depictions of colonial life, Kipling's early years in India had a profound influence on his later works. A large portion of his early years were spent apart from his parents; this is portrayed in his narrative "The Jungle Book." With a wide variety of works, including novels, poetry, and short tales, Kipling's creative career took off. His most famous works are "Kim," a book set in British India, and "The Jungle Book," an anthology of tales that went on to become a classic in children's literature. Kipling was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature when it was granted in 1907. Themes of imperialism, patriotism, and the intricacies of cross-cultural relationships were frequently covered in his writings. Because of his imperialist beliefs, Kipling's legacy has come under fire even though he was quite popular during his lifetime. However, his place in literary history has been cemented by his ability to fascinate readers with his storytelling prowess and his effect on adventure literature.