"The story of Kim (Kimball) O'Hara, the orphaned son of a British soldier. Set against the backdrop of 'The Great Game' a political conflict between Russia and Great Britain in central Asia, the novel traces the life of the title character from begging and errand running on the streets of Lahore to his schooling at a top English school in Lucknow, where he is trained in espionage, and ultimately to a government appointment where he himself gets to play in 'The Great Game'. Set between the second and third Afghan War, [this novel] presents a vivid portrait of 19th century India"--