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The Crab That Played With the Sea
Relates how the crab came to live both in the sea and on land and to lose its hard shell once a year.
- GenresChildrens
31 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1983
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,500 books3,815 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 6, 2017
2.5 ☆
The story was lovely but I couldn't connect.
The story was lovely but I couldn't connect.
November 30, 2015
>> The Crab That Played with the Sea
This story was the most disappointing of the whole "Just So Stories". It demonstrates the Creator of the universe as a magician!!
It also shows that the Creator is not fully aware of what goes around. Were some of the creatures are missing up with his creation! At the end of the story, the wrong doer compromises the Creator/magician, not to mention that the Creator/magician doesn't want the creatures to live and gain full strength, then they might strengthen on him! How nonsense!!
At the very end, the wrong doer also says that the Creator/magician didn't pay him much attention like that he paid to son of Adam. That's why he missed up! Afterwards, the Creator/magician confess of this truth!
Isn't that somehow a demonstration of Satan (Devil) and mankind? Don't you think that the writer is trying to reach a message to readers? This is how atheists are made, thinking that their creator is unfair, and that Iblis is innocent!
Please reread children stories and think of the story essence and the messages coming through before ever handing it to a kid.
Hope that helps.
Nadin Adel
30/11/2015
This story was the most disappointing of the whole "Just So Stories". It demonstrates the Creator of the universe as a magician!!
It also shows that the Creator is not fully aware of what goes around. Were some of the creatures are missing up with his creation! At the end of the story, the wrong doer compromises the Creator/magician, not to mention that the Creator/magician doesn't want the creatures to live and gain full strength, then they might strengthen on him! How nonsense!!
At the very end, the wrong doer also says that the Creator/magician didn't pay him much attention like that he paid to son of Adam. That's why he missed up! Afterwards, the Creator/magician confess of this truth!
Isn't that somehow a demonstration of Satan (Devil) and mankind? Don't you think that the writer is trying to reach a message to readers? This is how atheists are made, thinking that their creator is unfair, and that Iblis is innocent!
Please reread children stories and think of the story essence and the messages coming through before ever handing it to a kid.
Hope that helps.
Nadin Adel
30/11/2015
June 29, 2020
Very cute short story about why crabs molt... talks about the Eldest Magician, who would be likened to God. My 4 year old asked a lot of questions, but we got through it and she learned some things. 4 stars.
April 5, 2018
Rather fun, rather amusing anecdote about crabs, an easy read, uses aspects of great imagination.
August 1, 2012
This classic Kipling fable includes, at the end, a reminder to youngsters to be kind to crustaceans, and not capture crabs at the beach or eat them--something I can get behind and was very pleased to see!
August 24, 2016
OMG! Old childhood memories ... I'm glade that I found this old book and had the chance to read it again as a teenager.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews