Showing results for title "The Man Who Would Be King", by author "Rudyard Kipling" in Anthologies & Short Stories

In a remote part of 19th-century Afghanistan, two British adventurers pursue their ambition to rule an empire. Using betrayal, threats, and guns, they win the respect of a primitive tribe and become worshipped as gods until one day they draw blood, and the game is up. "The Man Who Would Be King" is an action-packed tale about the pitfalls of colonialism and the temptations and evils of power.

This collection brings together 17 of Kipling's early stories, written between 1885 and 1888, when Kipling was working as a journalist in India. "The Man Who Would Be King" is the story of two British vagabonds who set off to establish a small kingdom among primitive tribesmen in Afghanistan. Only one of the men returns, and his condition is so bad that the newspaperman-narrator barely recognizes him.

Presented here are several short stories of Kipling’s which highlight freemasonry, as well as some of his masonic poems: "In the Interests of the Brethren", "The Janeites", "A Madonna of the Trenches", "A Friend of the Family", and "The Man Who Would Be King". As well, the eight poems: "The Mother Lodge", "If", "The Sons of the Widow", "Banquet Night", "The Palace", "The Thousandth Man", "A Pilgrim’s Way", and "My New-Cut Ashlar".

This short story by Kipling of two British adventurers in British India who become kings of Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan, is read by David Philo.