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LIMITS AND RENEWALS.
Limits and
371 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1983
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,230 books3,738 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
February 20, 2023
It's a bit of a grudging three stars because two just seems too harsh. It wasn't terrible, it was just really hard to understand exactly what was being said at times. You can say that's my failing, but I read all kinds of books from different eras and in different genres, so I'm going with Kipling just wasn't clear enough. And that's his fault. Actually, I would've liked to have been his editor so that I could've gone, "what are you talking about here? And here?"
February 25, 2025
This is a collection of stories, which are told in a very round-about way. Just like someone else has already said in their review, often I'm not too sure what the stories are about? "Fairy Kist" is my favourite.
Also, it is insanely annoying that (I'm assuming based on the negative connotations) Kipling loves to remind us in almost every story that he dislikes Jews.
Also, it is insanely annoying that (I'm assuming based on the negative connotations) Kipling loves to remind us in almost every story that he dislikes Jews.
February 11, 2018
Really enjoyed this collection of short stories by Kipling.
November 3, 2022
This book is quite intense at times. Its repeated theme of insanity, depicted as loosing one’s “true self”, is tough to imagine going through, and yet is captured well by Kipling.
Despite being published in 1932 some of these short stories are remarkably modern. For example, in “The Woman in His Life” John lives a life of labor that begins to wear on his soul, to the point where he can no longer work. While this is burn out to an extreme, we’ve all been faced with seemingly unending hours of work. John regains himself by loving a small dog named Dinah, the woman in his life, and it was moving how someone in need of being taken care of is able to find himself again by taking care of someone else.
Another example is the last story in this collection, “Uncovenanted Mercies”. This story follows Satan, Gabriel, and Azrael as office workers who file away the souls of humans into their correct slots. I’m not sure if there’s an actual connection or inspiration, but this reminded me of Good Omens and the Good Place.
Despite being published in 1932 some of these short stories are remarkably modern. For example, in “The Woman in His Life” John lives a life of labor that begins to wear on his soul, to the point where he can no longer work. While this is burn out to an extreme, we’ve all been faced with seemingly unending hours of work. John regains himself by loving a small dog named Dinah, the woman in his life, and it was moving how someone in need of being taken care of is able to find himself again by taking care of someone else.
Another example is the last story in this collection, “Uncovenanted Mercies”. This story follows Satan, Gabriel, and Azrael as office workers who file away the souls of humans into their correct slots. I’m not sure if there’s an actual connection or inspiration, but this reminded me of Good Omens and the Good Place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2008
A great holiday book. Extremely entertaining and engaging, it a book to read when you have lots of uninterrupted time to think.
January 4, 2009
This book really spoke to me as a Scottish Terrier owner. Kipling obviously was as enchanted by this breed as I am and was really able to tell a great story from the dog perspective.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews