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In Black and White
In black and white (1890). This book, "In black and white," by Rudyard Kipling, is a replication of a book originally published before 1890. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible.
- GenresFiction
106 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1888
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,496 books3,813 followersJoseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 17, 2025
Eight short stories written in 1888:
"Dray Wara Yow Dee" - told by an Pathan (Pashtun, Afghan) narrator. I didn't see the point of this one at all.
"The Judgement of Dungara" - a Protestant missionary catastrophically fails to convert tribal Hindus called the Buria Kol. An interesting theme Kipling used for multiple short stories.
"At Howli Thana" - a Pathan narrates to an Englishman at length why he deserves a job. Just seems like imperial fluff.
"Gemini" - a very funny story about how an Indian moneylender gets English justice... for a crime committed against his twin brother.
"At Twenty-Two" - just fluff, IMO.
"In Flood Time" - Indian coal miners heroically save their own lives when the mine floods. Moderately interesting.
"The Sending of Dana Dee" - about a fictional New Religious Movement in the Raj (compare Theosophy, if you know anything about the sociology of that) and a member trying to raise his status by cursing an English officer with kittens.
"Under the City Wall" - by far the best story in this collection. A courtesan is a secret agent for rebels against the British. Kipling attempts to realistically sketch Lalun the courtesan, a Western-educated Muslim and an elderly Sikh freedom fighter against a backdrop of violence between Hindu and Muslim burghers.
"Dray Wara Yow Dee" - told by an Pathan (Pashtun, Afghan) narrator. I didn't see the point of this one at all.
"The Judgement of Dungara" - a Protestant missionary catastrophically fails to convert tribal Hindus called the Buria Kol. An interesting theme Kipling used for multiple short stories.
"At Howli Thana" - a Pathan narrates to an Englishman at length why he deserves a job. Just seems like imperial fluff.
"Gemini" - a very funny story about how an Indian moneylender gets English justice... for a crime committed against his twin brother.
"At Twenty-Two" - just fluff, IMO.
"In Flood Time" - Indian coal miners heroically save their own lives when the mine floods. Moderately interesting.
"The Sending of Dana Dee" - about a fictional New Religious Movement in the Raj (compare Theosophy, if you know anything about the sociology of that) and a member trying to raise his status by cursing an English officer with kittens.
"Under the City Wall" - by far the best story in this collection. A courtesan is a secret agent for rebels against the British. Kipling attempts to realistically sketch Lalun the courtesan, a Western-educated Muslim and an elderly Sikh freedom fighter against a backdrop of violence between Hindu and Muslim burghers.
February 24, 2025
I liked the cover (different than one above, it was maroon), so I bought it. The first story was about a man who kills the woman he loves bc she cheated with the man she loved, awkward.
December 11, 2010
These stories were mostly really enjoyable. Somewhat difficult, but good. Short stories are hard for me to read in any case, because of the gauge of how much information I want held back in order to balance the thing with interest that I'm not getting from the full disclosure of a novel.
But the writing was good, the length was good, and things moved along but sometimes gave me too much resolution. But I'm being too picky. There's one in here about a curse of pathetic white kittens that had me AGing (um, audibly giggling? no? okay, sorry, I am left with no viable or tongue-in-cheek way of saying I laughed audibly from the bathtub in a forum where that counts as an absolute benchmark.)
But the writing was good, the length was good, and things moved along but sometimes gave me too much resolution. But I'm being too picky. There's one in here about a curse of pathetic white kittens that had me AGing (um, audibly giggling? no? okay, sorry, I am left with no viable or tongue-in-cheek way of saying I laughed audibly from the bathtub in a forum where that counts as an absolute benchmark.)
August 7, 2008
The collection of short stories entitled "in Black and White" felt like i was reading the Old Testament. Very bizzare, content and style. The play that concluded my edition, "The Story of the Gadsbeys," I enjoyed more.
March 31, 2015
Interesting read. Short stories about the culture and lives of British service men and officers in India.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews