Letters of Marque

** "Letters of Marque" by Rudyard Kipling is a compilation of essays offering a glimpse into British India in the late 1800s. The essays use descriptions of travel and detailed observations to learn about Indian society, landscape, and the unique qualities of its people. The main story looks at the mixing of different cultures and how both the writer and the people being written about change because of it. The reader meets an Englishman traveling through India who is really amazed by the Taj Mahal, but the author shows how this tourist's quick, excited views are different from someone who knows and respects the land and its past. He considers the inspiring beauty of the Taj in the morning by making the reader feel both respect and sadness for why it was created. The essays get the reader ready for a trip that also includes humor, critique, and historical information, causing readers to wonder about the difficult issues and the encounters between India and colonial powers. **