The Man Who Would Be King

Two roguish British adventurers in India resolve to make themselves kings of remote Kafiristan, and against all odds they succeed—until human weakness and the illusion of divinity bring their empire crashing down. Kipling’s famous novella is a gripping, ironic tale of ambition, brotherhood, and hubris on the wild frontier of empire, narrated with his trademark vigor. A masterpiece of the adventure genre, it explores the folly and grandeur of men who would be gods. Compact and unforgettable, The Man Who Would Be King is one of the greatest adventure stories ever written, later immortalized on screen, and a sharp meditation on the dreams and downfalls of empire.