THE KESSINGLAND CONNECTION IN THE LIFE AND WORK OF RUDYARD KIPLING

by Maureen Long

24pp, A5, illustrated in colour and black and white. £2.95 plus 50p postage (UK) - Available from Mrs M Long, 52 London Road, Kessingland, Nr Lowestoft, NR33 7PW.

Maureen Long is the editor of "The Kessingland Times" and is the Rider Haggard Society's social organiser. As she lives in Rider Haggard country, she is ideally located for Haggard research and for organising meetings for the Society. She has several meetings for the Society to her belt, and these have been in Kessingland, Ditchingham and Bradenham, the three villages associated with Haggard.

This new book by Maureen Long, who is a member of the Rider Haggard Society, tells us that Kipling once recited his famous poem, "If" in Kessingland, while he stayed at Haggard's summer home. This is a companion book to her earlier book, "The Kessingland Connection in the Life and Works of Rider Haggard". Maureen's new effort is equally delightful, and follows a similar format to the earlier book, and is attractively produced on buff paper.

It tells of how Kipling would visit Haggard at his Kessingland clifftop home, the long-demolished Grange. It describes the great friendship of the two men, who had much in common besides writing, such as the loss of a son, and a patriotic belief in the British Empire. Maureen's new writing effort is to be congratulated and recommended to anyone who is interested in Haggard or Kipling.