This anthology of Rudyard Kipling's greatest short stories contains some of the most memorable and popular examples of the genre of which he was an undisputed master. The Man Who Would be King is a classic tale of adventure as the opportunistic, renegade and vagabond pair of Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan attempt to establish themselves at the level of god and king over the primitive people of Kafiristan.Other famous short stories included are: Only a Subaltern, The Phantom 'Rickshaw, Wee Willie Winkle, and Baa Baa Black Sheep.The Man Who Would be King was made into a popular film in 1975, starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummet and directed by John Huston.

The Man who would be King (I889) is one of Rudyard Kipling"s most famous short stories and was originally published in a volume entided The Phantom "Rickshaw. The shrewd and opportunistic white trader,Daniel Dravot, escaping the bonds of the British raj, sets himself up as a god and king of the primitive tribesmen of Kafiristan, which status and kingdom he shares with his renegade, vagabond companion,Peachey Camehan. Throughout The Man who would be King there are strong echoes of the exploits of Sir James (Rajah) Brooke, the pacifier of Borneo, and later the Rajah of Sarawak. The pair succeed with their regal ambitions for a time, using their undoubted guile and the skills of diplomacy, tactics and disguise learnt in the world from which they come. However, for how long can the two adventurers maintain the fiction? Will they over-reach themselves in their quest for total obedience from the Kafiristani tribesmen? What will befall them if the thin thread of their subjects" credulity gives way under the strains of their ever-increasing claims and demands? These are the questions to which Kipling so thrillingly and ingeniously provides the answers. Among other famous short stories in this anthology of Kipling"s best tales are: Only a Subaltern, The Phantom "Rickshaw, Wee Willie Winkie, and Baa Baa, Black Sheep, the reading of which plays an essential part in the understanding of Kipling and his works.

The Education of Otis Yeere

At the Pit"s Mouth

A Wayside Comedy

The Hill of Illusion

A Second-Rate Woman

Only a Subaltern

The Phantom "Rickshaw

My Own True Ghost Story

The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Fukes

The Man who would be King

Wee Willie Winkie

Baa Baa, Black Sheep

His Majesty the King

The Drums of the Fore and Aft