The Story of the Gadsbys

by Rudyard Kipling

The Story of the Gadsbys represents a collection of eight very short stories written in dramatic form and "Poor Dear Mamma," "The World Without," "The Tents of Kedar," "With any Amazement," "The Garden of Eden," "Fatima," "The Valley of the Shadow," "The Swelling of Jordan." The most important characters of the short dramatic scenes, such as Captain Gadsby and Miss D., along with the setting and the events described in these scenes make of the work a modern one, much close to a comedy of manners. Although the plots of the scenes are not perfectly consistent and clear, the main themes dealt with are related to family relations, social classes and manners.

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Joseph 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."

Reviews

[Sean Meade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet love story in the form of a play (though hard to imagine how it could be produced) with faulty characters that rings true. Be sure to notice the meaning of Kipling's introduction given where the story ends up.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that this is the first 5 stars I have given to a Kipling book. Although the ending of the play wasn’t necessarily as strong, the last scene like with the rest of the works was a good gem. It follows the life of a career military man in India who falls in love and suffers the trials and tribulations of married life, culminating I the decision he makes. It starts of slow, but, very quickly gets going. One of the many things that I do like about this book is the dialogue. The majority of Kipling’s works are descriptive, but little dialogue. Once you read the introduction into the scene, the scene is set and the dialogue takes you on the journey.

Quite a true pleasure to read.

[Old Man JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book written as a play. It follows a young captain who marries and each scene represents different stages of the marriage. The book is written almost entirely in dialog which is a problem for me because I sometimes have a difficult time deciphering Kipling's dialog.

[Paul Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems to exist as practice by kipling at reproducing the lingo of the time, but in other stories he does it just as well and also provides a plot.

[Gene Georgelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it will never be a favorite for me. Reminds me of some of Hemingway's love stories

[Le Maistre Chat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was only Kipling's third work of fiction, after Plain Tales From the Hills and Soldiers Three. It's written like a drama in eight scenes, and it just seems to be a bit of fluff about an English Captain in India who gets married. Not recommended.