They – Signed By Rudyard Kipling

Author: Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: F H Townsend
Price: £595
Publisher: Macmillan, London, UK
Edition: First edition
Publication Date: 1905
Format: Original cloth gilt
Condition: Very good
Pages: 80

Description:
Short story. Signed ‘Rudyard Kipling’ to the title page by the author. Binding nice and tight with very slight creasing. Cloth a little marked and slightly sunned to the spine. Slight foxing to the endpapers otherwise pages and illustrations very nice and clean. A very good copy overall. Very scarce signed.

They: A Short Description

“They” is a short story by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1904 in his collection Traffics and Discoveries. It is considered one of Kipling’s more mysterious and introspective works, blending elements of supernatural fiction with themes of loss, memory, and the afterlife. The story reflects Kipling’s personal grief following the death of his daughter, Josephine, and is often regarded as one of his most emotionally profound pieces.

Plot Summary:

The story is narrated by an unnamed protagonist, a man who is driving through the English countryside in his motorcar. Whilst travelling, he stumbles upon an old manor house tucked away in a remote part of the country, which seems to be hidden from the world. The house is inhabited by a blind woman known only as “the Lady.” The narrator is charmed by the tranquillity of the house and its surroundings, and he begins to visit frequently.

During his visits, the narrator notices that there are children playing around the estate, although they seem to come and go silently and mysteriously. The Lady herself refers to them as “They,” but when the narrator tries to approach or engage with the children, they always vanish before he can get too close.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the children are not ordinary. They seem to inhabit a world between the living and the dead, perhaps existing in a liminal space where those who have passed away are able to stay connected to the ones they loved. The narrator eventually realises that these children are spirits, the souls of children who have died, and the Lady is their caretaker in this ethereal existence.

In a powerful moment of revelation, the narrator understands that his own deceased daughter is among the children playing at the manor. Overcome with emotion, he attempts to interact with her, but the Lady gently prevents him, indicating that the children belong to their own world now and that it is not meant for the living to disturb them.

Themes:

1. Grief and Loss:
   • The story poignantly explores the theme of parental grief, particularly the longing for a connection with a child who has passed away. Kipling, who lost his own daughter Josephine in 1899, channels his deep personal sorrow into the narrative.
2. The Supernatural and the Afterlife:
   • “They” presents a subtle and poetic depiction of the afterlife. The children in the story inhabit a space between the living and the dead, suggesting that love transcends death and that there is a place where the souls of the departed might continue to exist in peace.
3. Memory and Nostalgia:
   • The narrator’s recollections of the children reflect a deep sense of nostalgia for the past and a desire to hold on to memories of loved ones who are gone. The story suggests that memories, like the children in the tale, can be fleeting and elusive, yet they provide a sense of comfort and continuity.
4. The Hidden Nature of the Supernatural:
   • Kipling emphasises the quiet, elusive nature of the supernatural in this story. The children are never directly encountered, and their presence is always suggested rather than fully revealed. This creates an atmosphere of mystery and reverence, where the spiritual world remains hidden from the living.

Symbolism:

• The Manor House: The house and its surrounding garden represent a sanctuary, a place removed from the turmoil of the outside world where the dead can find peace and the living can momentarily touch the eternal.
• The Blind Lady: The Lady, with her blindness, symbolises a connection to the unseen world. She cannot see the living or the physical world around her, but she understands the presence of the children. Her blindness is a metaphor for the idea that true vision comes from spiritual understanding, not physical sight.
• The Children: The children in the story represent innocence and purity. Their presence as spirits reflects the idea that the love between parent and child continues even after death, though it remains intangible and unreachable.

Kipling’s Personal Connection:

Kipling wrote “They” not long after the death of his daughter Josephine, who passed away from pneumonia at the age of six. The story’s themes of grief, loss, and the possibility of contact with the dead reflect Kipling’s own emotional journey. It is considered a deeply personal work, offering insight into Kipling’s inner life and his way of processing the overwhelming sorrow of losing a child.

Style and Tone:

“They” is written in a lyrical and reflective tone, with Kipling’s typical economy of language and attention to atmospheric detail. The story’s slow, meditative pace mirrors the narrator’s gradual understanding of the true nature of the children at the manor. Kipling creates a quiet, almost dreamlike atmosphere, allowing the emotional impact of the story to build gradually and subtly.

Legacy:

“They” is often considered one of Kipling’s more haunting and thought-provoking short stories. It stands out from much of his other work, particularly his adventure stories, for its deep emotional resonance and exploration of the supernatural. Though not as widely known as some of his other works, it has been praised for its sensitivity and the way it deals with complex emotional and philosophical themes.

In essence, “They” is a moving meditation on grief, love, and the thin veil between life and death, offering readers a glimpse into Kipling’s personal sorrow while also crafting a beautiful, enigmatic story about the eternal bond between parents and their lost children.

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