The Book That Literally Saved A Life

"Kim," by Rudyard Kipling, with bullet hole on upper left corner. Rare Book and Special Collections Division.“Kim,” by Rudyard Kipling, with bullet hole on upper left corner. (Credits: Rare Book and Special Collections Division)

Maurice Hamonneau, a French legionnaire and the sole survivor of an artillery attack near Verdun during the First World War, lay wounded and unconscious for hours after the battle. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovered that a 1913 French pocket edition of Rudyard Kipling's "Kim" had deflected a bullet, saving his life by a mere twenty pages. In recognition of his bravery, Hamonneau was awarded the Croix de Guerre, leading to a close friendship with Kipling. Learning of Kipling's grief over the loss of his son John, who served with the Irish Guards, Hamonneau was moved to send the medal and the torn copy of "Kim" to Kipling. Kipling, deeply touched, insisted he would return the items if Hamonneau ever had a son. When Hamonneau did, he named him Jean in honour of John Kipling. Kipling returned the items along with a heartfelt letter to young Jean, advising him to always carry a book of at least 350 pages in the left breast pocket. Eventually, the book went to auction and became part of the Library through the Colt-Kipling Collection.