First published in 1891, 'The Light that Failed' is Rudyard Kipling's semi-autobiographical first novel. Critics who had praised his Anglo-Indian short stories were shocked by the unhappy ending and deviation from his usual style. None, however, could deny the power of Kipling's writing. 'The Light that Failed' tells the story of war artist Dick Heldar, his doomed relationship with Maisie, and his descent into blindness. Through Dick, Kipling considers the relationship between Art and Life, espousing his belief that the artist has a duty to paint only what he knows to be true. This scholarly edition includes: critical introduction; author biography; suggestions for further reading; explanatory notes; contextual material.