From Sea to Sea; Letters of Travel

"From Sea to Sea; Letters of Travel" by Rudyard Kipling is a compilation of travel letters from the late 1800s. These letters, originally written for newspapers, share Kipling's thoughts and adventures while traveling in India and other places. The book starts with Kipling's ideas about travel, setting himself apart from regular tourists and what he calls "Globe-trotters." He paints a vivid picture of seeing the Taj Mahal from a train, showing its beauty and also hinting at deeper emotions. Through meeting people like a Young Man from Manchester, Kipling points out how some travelers don't always understand the true meaning of the places they visit. This beginning sets the stage for a journey through India, filled with cultural understanding and observations about society.