The Army of a Dream: Difference between revisions
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The story begins with an army officer taking the narrator to show off his military unit, the ''Tynesiders''. It is revealed that in this parallel Britain envisaged by Kipling, military service for males is [[Volunteer military|voluntary]], but almost universal, because only those who have served may vote, along with a number of other incentives. The result is a sort of citizen militia composed of [[competent man|competent men]] focused on dealing with any threat to their community and nation. In addition to ensuring home defence this "Army of a Dream" contains units intended for overseas colonial service and for possible intervention in Europe. The complex and idealised military system of Kipling's imagination includes features such as rudimentary training for boys beginning at the age of eight, close integration between army and navy and an [[British Empire|Empire]]-wide sense of assimilation between civilians and soldiers. |
The story begins with an army officer taking the narrator to show off his military unit, the ''Tynesiders''. It is revealed that in this parallel Britain envisaged by Kipling, military service for males is [[Volunteer military|voluntary]], but almost universal, because only those who have served may vote, along with a number of other incentives. The result is a sort of citizen militia composed of [[competent man|competent men]] focused on dealing with any threat to their community and nation. In addition to ensuring home defence this "Army of a Dream" contains units intended for overseas colonial service and for possible intervention in Europe. The complex and idealised military system of Kipling's imagination includes features such as rudimentary training for boys beginning at the age of eight, close integration between army and navy and an [[British Empire|Empire]]-wide sense of assimilation between civilians and soldiers. |
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On the last page of the novel the unnamed story teller suddenly realises that the officers accompanying him on his inspection tour are actually dead friends or acquaintances who died in the mismanaged [[Second Boer War|South African War]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Charles|last=Carrington|page=377|title=Rudyard Kipling| |
On the last page of the novel the unnamed story teller suddenly realises that the officers accompanying him on his inspection tour are actually dead friends or acquaintances who died in the mismanaged [[Second Boer War|South African War]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Charles|last=Carrington|page=377|title=Rudyard Kipling|year=1978|isbn=0-333-25456-2}}</ref> |
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==Criticism== |
==Criticism== |
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==Influence== |
==Influence== |
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Rudyard Kipling was, in general, a major influence on one of the 20th century's most influential writers, [[Robert A. Heinlein]]. In his seminal work ''[[Starship Troopers]]'', Heinlein models a similar society, where one is not a citizen unless one becomes a veteran of government service. While this does not have to be in combat forces but is actually more like being a civil servant,<ref>{{cite |
Rudyard Kipling was, in general, a major influence on one of the 20th century's most influential writers, [[Robert A. Heinlein]]. In his seminal work ''[[Starship Troopers]]'', Heinlein models a similar society, where one is not a citizen unless one becomes a veteran of government service. While this does not have to be in combat forces but is actually more like being a civil servant,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBIWAwAAQBAJ&q=%22army+of+a+dream%22+kipling+heinlein+starship+troopers&pg=PA60|title=The Cambridge Companion to Rudyard Kipling|first=Howard J.|last=Booth|date=1 September 2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781107493636|accessdate=3 September 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> that novel follows characters in the mobile infantry, and is the origin of the [[mech]] trope that has pervaded [[science fiction]] since.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0p0YDAAAQBAJ&q=%22army+of+a+dream%22+kipling+heinlein+starship+troopers&pg=PA182|title=Histories of the Future: Studies in Fact, Fantasy and Science Fiction|first=Alan|last=Sandison|date=30 April 2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=9781403919298|accessdate=3 September 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> Also foreshadowed is Heinlein's fondness for the competent hero, a character who — though usually bearing normal human flaws — is rugged and self-responsible, able to do most things at least on a fundamental level and functioning with a high level of confidence and [[self-actualization]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 21:47, 4 December 2020
| ""The Army of a Dream"" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Rudyard Kipling | |
 The cover of a 1905 print of The Army of a Dream | |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Publication | |
| Publisher | Morning Post |
| Publication date | 1904 |
"The Army of a Dream" is a speculative fiction short story written by Rudyard Kipling, published in the Morning Post in June 1904.[1] It models an alternate way of organizing the military, along lines of responsibility and competence instead of heredity and privilege, as he had seen that the British Armed Forces was at that time.
Plot
The story begins with an army officer taking the narrator to show off his military unit, the Tynesiders. It is revealed that in this parallel Britain envisaged by Kipling, military service for males is voluntary, but almost universal, because only those who have served may vote, along with a number of other incentives. The result is a sort of citizen militia composed of competent men focused on dealing with any threat to their community and nation. In addition to ensuring home defence this "Army of a Dream" contains units intended for overseas colonial service and for possible intervention in Europe. The complex and idealised military system of Kipling's imagination includes features such as rudimentary training for boys beginning at the age of eight, close integration between army and navy and an Empire-wide sense of assimilation between civilians and soldiers.
On the last page of the novel the unnamed story teller suddenly realises that the officers accompanying him on his inspection tour are actually dead friends or acquaintances who died in the mismanaged South African War.[2]
Criticism
"The Army of a Dream" was criticised as being political propaganda masquerading as a short story. Kipling himself acknowledged that it was not a serious attempt at army reform but simply an effort to put forward a number of ideas for consideration.
Influence
Rudyard Kipling was, in general, a major influence on one of the 20th century's most influential writers, Robert A. Heinlein. In his seminal work Starship Troopers, Heinlein models a similar society, where one is not a citizen unless one becomes a veteran of government service. While this does not have to be in combat forces but is actually more like being a civil servant,[3] that novel follows characters in the mobile infantry, and is the origin of the mech trope that has pervaded science fiction since.[4] Also foreshadowed is Heinlein's fondness for the competent hero, a character who — though usually bearing normal human flaws — is rugged and self-responsible, able to do most things at least on a fundamental level and functioning with a high level of confidence and self-actualization.
References
- ^ "The Army of a Dream". www.kiplingsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Carrington, Charles (1978). Rudyard Kipling. p. 377. ISBN 0-333-25456-2.
- ^ Booth, Howard J. (1 September 2011). The Cambridge Companion to Rudyard Kipling. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107493636. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Sandison, Alan (30 April 2016). Histories of the Future: Studies in Fact, Fantasy and Science Fiction. Springer. ISBN 9781403919298. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Google Books.