First published in 1903, Kipling's The Five Nations included a number of new poems as well as several that had been previously published (notably Recessional of 1897). In 1903, the United Kingdom consisted of four nations: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It was soon suggested that Kipling's 'five nations' were the 'five free nations of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa [i.e. Cape Colony], and the islands of the sea (i.e. the British Isles) - all dominated by Britons; and except in the last case, by recent settlers.

Kipling is chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India and his tales for children.

First edition; 8vo (200 x 130 mm); usual age-toning, gilt top-edge, spotting to fore-edges, others untrimmed, browned endpapers; publisher's red buckram cloth, gilt titling to spine, boards are sunned, corners bumped, otherwise very good condition; [xvi], 215pp, [1], [38] ads.