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A Kipling story with darker meanings

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From: The Sunday Telegraph London
Date: 20031228
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Rudyard Kipling's short story The Gardener is indeed poignant (Moved to Tears, Review, December 21), but Kipling's subtle narrative and characterisation has a further dimension that puts the story into a somewhat different focus than that seen by Noel Malcolm.

Miss Turrell describes Michael Turrell correctly as her brother's son, and goes on to "concede nothing good to his mother's side"; and the grave she visits is Michael Turrell's. But Michael Turrell was not her nephew. He was her illegitimate son.

The story may suggest unconditional love but its subject is redemption.

Malcolm J C Addison

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