The Man Who Would Be King

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Man Who Would Be King" by Rudyard Kipling is a short story written in the late 19th century, during the Victorian era. This narrative explores themes of ambition, colonialism, and the folly of human pride through the tale of two British adventurers seeking to become kings in a remote part of Afghanistan called Kafiristan. The story intricately weaves commentary on imperialism, presenting a cautionary tale about the lust for power and the complexities of cultural encounters. The plot follows two British men, Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, who decide to leave India behind to establish their own kingdom in Kafiristan, convinced they can conquer the land and rule over its people. Dravot and Carnehan first carefully orchestrate their entry into Kafiristan by disguising themselves as gods, garnering the respect and devotion of the locals as they establish authority. However, their reign unravels as Dravot's desire for a queen leads to a tragic confrontation with the very people who once honored them. This sudden turn reveals the dangers of hubris and the thin veneer of civilization, culminating in a dramatic downfall that serves as a stark reflection on colonial ambitions and their inevitable failures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Jeffrey Kraus-yao

Notes:

Reading ease score: 87.8 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Would_Be_King

Release date is 2005-05-01