Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. He was born in India, which inspired much of his work.

Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), Just So Stories (1902), and many short stories. His poems include "Gunga Din" (1890) and "If–" (1910).

His relationship with his son, who was killed during the First World War, is explored in David Haig's play My Boy Jack (1997), published by Nick Hern Books.