The Man Who Would Be King: Selected Stories (Penguin Classics)

Two ex British army sergeants devise a scheme to smuggle guns to a remote corner of Afghanistan, train an army and establish their own kingdom. I have enjoyed watching the movie "The Man Who Would be King" starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine several times. I was interested in seeing how closely the movie was adapted from the book. The movie actually follows rather closely, even taking lines of dialogue directly from the book. It is only after the men get to Kafiristan that things are changed to make the movie more cinemagraphic and flow better.I don't know why other reviewers mention other stories in this Kindle edition nor why it is claimed to be 608 pages long. There is just this one story in the Kindle edition, at least in the one that I downloaded. It is a novella of perhaps 60 pages and only takes a short time to read. I did find it a very enjoyable read and liked comparing the original Kipling story to the Hollywood interpretation.

After I finished reading 'The Man Who Would Be King', it seemed like too much story to put into this short novel. I wanted more. But, after thinking about it for a little while I realized that Kipling painted the main characters in colorful, broad strokes and, yes, I liked it. It was very well, albeit efficiently, written.

Nothing like reminiscences about the Boer War and the Raj washed down with good Empire gin.Puts hair on your chest, makes a man out of you.Now come on, there's more pointless marching about in the hot sun to do,

Am very happy with the fast delivery and very good condition of the book (no scuffs, no creases). Thank you.

A classic!

A superlative collection of 38 of Kipling's short stories , from his earliest in 1880's Victorian Britain and the Raj, to his final works in an altogether different world of the 1930's. Kipling is much maligned these days;dismissed as a stooge for colonialism and imperial Britain, but I honestly have to wonder if these critics have ever read a word Kipling wrote. Its the range, quality and style of these stories that so impresses.In 'The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes' you not only have a surreal masterpiece, but arguably a reflection on the impossibility of Empire or society based on a presumed superiority of one class over another; a need to work together to get out of situations that engulf.'The Man Who Would be King' again views a rule based on false presumptions and claims and how-once the myth is gone- it all comes clattering down.His obvious respect for the various eastern religions comes through(as in 'Mohammad Din') and in 'Naboth'he uses comedy to satire colonialism with his garden being slowly over taken by a local native. "Baa Baa black Sheep" is a harrowing account of neglect and abuse suffered by a child-telling of Kiplings own experiences as a child with foster parents.This pre dates all the Dave Peltzer inspired accounts of recent years and is more powerful and unique as it comes from an age when a "These things did not happen" attitude kept it quiet. In later years Kipling also muses and wonders on the modern age ("Wireless" for eg) and on the futility and loss of life in war;something Kipling knew of personally having lost his own son in WW1. Kipling is easily amongst the greats in short story writing. Admirers of Cheever will feel well at home with these. The anti Kipling lobby do a huge disservice to literature a) by having not read Kipling yet coming out with cliches they've learned from some third rate rag somewhere and b)shamefully putting people off reading his fantastic tales. A really great and definitive collection of the best from a truly deserving Nobel winner. Rediscover !

Surely one of the best films ever made.

This was a gift and the recipient loved it. Very difficult to get hold of Kipling’s short stories so this is a treat.

Perfect for my, a big cup of tea and Rudyard Kipling to read, what a wonderful evening. This writer is the genius that gave Disney the idea for The Jungle Book and wrote stories that would be made into incredible films like "The Man Who Would Be King" with Sean Connery and Michael Caine. His style is just right and exactly like stepping back in time. Imagine something to read that is exciting and often really funny and there's no mention of emails or mobile phones. I sit there and read and enjoy the stories immensely, have my feet up in an old chair and there's a fire warming me in my room, wonderful

Libro molto bello e interessante. Un capolavoro del suo tempo, piacevole da leggere e scorrevole. Una grande riflessione sul tema del colonialismo, della percezione dell'Altro e dell'animo umano, utilizzando grandi espedienti narrativi. Ironico e divertente a tratti, ma che manda al contempo degli interessanti input per la riflessione di importanti tematiche della storia, ma anche del presente.Libro con copertina pieghevole, arrivato in perfette condizioni e in tempo.

Having never read the book I wasn't disappointed. This story of adventure and brotherhood still resonates today and explains why Kipling was one of our greatest authors.