The text—that of the 1901 Sussex Edition—is fully annotated and accompanied by three maps that help students place the novel in geographical and historical contexts.

"Backgrounds" explores the novel's complicated issues of multiculturalism, imperialism, and racism, allowing readers to glimpse Kipling's personal thoughts about British expansionism.  Included are two short stories, poems, and letters by Kipling, as well as autobiographical and biographical memoirs and contemporary reviews of Kim.

"Criticism" collects fourteen wide-ranging assessments of the novel by Noel Annan, Irving Howe, Edward Said, Ian Baucom, A. Michael Matin, John A. McClure, Anne Parry, Michael Hollington, Parama Roy, Sara Suleri, Patrick Williams, Suvir Kaul, Mark Kinkead-Weekes, and Zohreh T. Sullivan.

A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography are included.