American wife of British author Rudyard Kipling and custodian of his literary legacy, "Carrie" Balestier Kipling remains a controversial figure in his life. Born into a prominent New England family on New Year's Eve 1862, she was 27 when her brother Wolcott Balestier, a writer and publisher, introduced her to the 24-year-old Kipling, already a celebrity, in 1889. The two young men, who co-authored "The Naulahka", had become close personal friends, and Kipling was deeply grieved by Balestier's untimely death in 1891. Although Carrie described herself as "plain" and notably lacked her brother's charisma and easy grace, Kipling immediately proposed to her by telegram, and the couple were married in London on January 18, 1892. Author Henry James, who gave the bride away, would later describe her as "a hard, capable little person", but initially the marriage was idyllic. By the year's end the couple were living in "Bliss Cottage" on the Balestier family estate in Brattleboro, Vermont, and had welcomed the first of their three children, daughter Josephine. A second girl, Elsie, was born in 1896, and their only son, John, the following year. By the late 1890's, however, romance had given way to resignation on Kipling's part, and he waxed philosophical on life with a strong-willed, often controlling, mate. Beset with in-law problems and anti-British politics in the United States, the Kiplings relocated to England, where they eventually settled on an estate in Sussex. Although Carrie was considered an opportunist by Kipling's parents and disliked by his colleagues in art and literary circles, her Yankee business acumen and fiercely protective attitude towards her husband enabled him to focus on his writing free of distractions, and the prolific author produced most of his masterworks during their 44-year marriage. Her own intense suffering notwithstanding, she also sustained him through family crises, including the deaths of two of their children: 6-year-old Josie from typhoid in 1899, and 18-year-old Jack in combat during World War I. The latter tragedy was particularly harrowing, as Jack had been among the missing in action in 1915, and doubts that his remains had been positively identified lingered for years afterwards. Kipling never recovered from Jack's loss, and Carrie remained at his side throughout his subsequent decline. After his death in 1936, she spent the remaining years of her life at the Kipling estate, which she bequeathed to the National Trust. She died in December 1939, on the eve of her 77th birthday, and was cremated in Brighton, England. (Bio by Nikita Barlow)
American wife of British author Rudyard Kipling and custodian of his literary legacy, "Carrie" Balestier Kipling remains a controversial figure in his life. Born into a prominent New England family on New Year's Eve 1862, she was 27 when her brother Wolcott Balestier, a writer and publisher, introduced her to the 24-year-old Kipling, already a celebrity, in 1889. The two young men, who co-authored "The Naulahka", had become close personal friends, and Kipling was deeply grieved by Balestier's untimely death in 1891. Although Carrie described herself as "plain" and notably lacked her brother's charisma and easy grace, Kipling immediately proposed to her by telegram, and the couple were married in London on January 18, 1892. Author Henry James, who gave the bride away, would later describe her as "a hard, capable little person", but initially the marriage was idyllic. By the year's end the couple were living in "Bliss Cottage" on the Balestier family estate in Brattleboro, Vermont, and had welcomed the first of their three children, daughter Josephine. A second girl, Elsie, was born in 1896, and their only son, John, the following year. By the late 1890's, however, romance had given way to resignation on Kipling's part, and he waxed philosophical on life with a strong-willed, often controlling, mate. Beset with in-law problems and anti-British politics in the United States, the Kiplings relocated to England, where they eventually settled on an estate in Sussex. Although Carrie was considered an opportunist by Kipling's parents and disliked by his colleagues in art and literary circles, her Yankee business acumen and fiercely protective attitude towards her husband enabled him to focus on his writing free of distractions, and the prolific author produced most of his masterworks during their 44-year marriage. Her own intense suffering notwithstanding, she also sustained him through family crises, including the deaths of two of their children: 6-year-old Josie from typhoid in 1899, and 18-year-old Jack in combat during World War I. The latter tragedy was particularly harrowing, as Jack had been among the missing in action in 1915, and doubts that his remains had been positively identified lingered for years afterwards. Kipling never recovered from Jack's loss, and Carrie remained at his side throughout his subsequent decline. After his death in 1936, she spent the remaining years of her life at the Kipling estate, which she bequeathed to the National Trust. She died in December 1939, on the eve of her 77th birthday, and was cremated in Brighton, England. (Bio by Nikita Barlow)
