The Man Who Would Be King

Rudyard Kipling

Sinopse

Rudyard Kipling's "The Man Who Would Be King" is a masterful novella that intricately weaves themes of imperialism, adventure, and the clash of civilizations. Set in the remote mountains of Afghanistan, the story follows two British adventurers, Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, who ascend to kingship in a small tribal kingdom. Kipling's narrative style is characterized by vivid imagery, sharp dialogue, and a keen psychological insight into his characters, reflecting the complexities of colonialism and the human condition. With its rich prose and allegorical depth, the novella serves as a poignant commentary on the intoxicating nature of power and the inevitable consequences that follow hubris. Rudyard Kipling, an acclaimed British author and poet born in 1865 in India, was profoundly influenced by his experiences in British-ruled territories. His literary oeuvre often grapples with the themes of empire, masculinity, and moral ambiguity, echoing the contradictions of the colonial age. Kipling's personal history and exposure to diverse cultures inform the narrative dynamics in this work, allowing him to authentically portray the complexities faced by his characters in their pursuit of power. For readers seeking an enthralling tale that underpins the paradoxes of colonial adventure and the folly of ambition, "The Man Who Would Be King" is an essential read. Kipling's masterful storytelling not only entertains but also invites profound reflection on the nature of authority, identity, and cultural conflict, making it a timeless exploration of the human spirit.

Disponível desde: 16/09/2022.

Comprimento de impressão: 34 páginas.

Outros livros que poderiam interessá-lo

Bizarre

Lawton Mackall

A series of essays offering a humorous look at commonplace items and occurrences. (Summary by Nick Bulka)

Ver livro

A Witch's Den - A look into the...

Helena Blavatsky

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, often known as Madame Blavatsky, was born on 12th August 1831 into an aristocratic family in present day Dnipro in Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. She was the younger sister of the writer Vera Zhelikhovsky.

Much of Blavatsky’s life story relies on her own memories which changed much during her lifetime and therefore parts of it are unreliable. What appears to be certain is that much of her life was lived first on family travels and postings and then on her journeys in an effort to further her own self-education and quest for knowledge.

As a teenager she developed an interest in Western esotericism and from there she claimed many travels including a trip to India where she encountered a group of spiritual adepts, the ‘Masters of the Ancient Wisdom’, who sent her to Shigatse, Tibet, where they trained her to develop a deeper understanding of the synthesis of religion, philosophy, and science.

By the early 1870s, Blavatsky was involved in the Spiritualist movement, which was then popular both in Britain and abroad, even though she argued against its main tenet that those ‘contacted’ were the spirits of the dead.

She moved to the United States in 1873 and became close to the journalist Henry Steel Olcott who helped her gain public attention as a spirit medium and then also became an adherent to her principles.

In 1875 in New York City she co-founded the Theosophical Society and two years later published ‘Isis Unveiled’, a book outlining her Theosophical world-view from its ancient roots to the modern day. Her work was even more popular in Asia than elsewhere and is said to have influenced both Ghandi and Nehru amongst many others.

In 1880, she and Olcott moved to India, where the Society was allied to a Hindu reform movement. That same year she converted to Buddhism. However, she was often plagued with accusations of fraudulent paranormal phenomena.

With her health failing she returned to London and published ‘The Secret Doctrine’, her commentary on claimed ancient Tibetan manuscripts, and other books.

Helena Blavatsky died in London of influenza during the global pandemic on 8th May 1891. She was 59.

Ver livro

My Margaret Your Toshie

Keith Adamson

A novel based on the intertwined lives of Margaret MacDonald & Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

War has broken out and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh is in self-imposed exile from his native Glasgow, painting wildflowers in watercolour in a sleepy Suffolk village.

As a man from 'foreign parts', however, he falls prey to the suspicions of apprehensive villagers, even finding himself accused of spying. With tensions running high, it is his wife Margaret who comes to the rescue by engineering their escape to Chelsea. There they find themselves in a burgeoning artistic scene where old friends encourage them to seek out a completely new life in a rather different part of the world.

Will this be the turning point? Can Margaret's continuing love and support be just the leverage Charles needs to reinvent himself as an artist?

Ver livro

Inner Paths to Outer Space

Rick Strassman, Luis Eduardo...

This audiobook is a collective exploration of a bold idea: that the worlds accessed in visionary states—especially those triggered by psychedelics like DMT, ayahuasca and psilocybin—may be genuine “spaces” of experience that tell us something real about consciousness and, possibly, about other forms of life or intelligence. Rather than treating psychedelic visions as mere hallucinations, the authors argue that these inner journeys can function as “inner paths” toward what we usually think of as “outer space”: other dimensions, other minds, and other layers of reality.

Ver livro

Fiction Favours the Facts – Book...

Mark Morgan, Cathy Morgan, Laura...

Fiction Favours the Facts - Book 3 
Yet another collection of 22 Bible-based micro-tales. Some tell of little-known Bible characters, while others concentrate on an incident in the life of one of the more famous Bible characters. 
This new collection of short stories visits the lives of Moses, David, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Jesus, Paul, Peter and others, often through the eyes of people who knew them. Eleven stories from the Old Testament matched with eleven from the New Testament, using contributions from three authors who love the Bible. 
Written by Mark Morgan, Cathy Morgan and Laura Morgan (Bible Tales Online). 
Stories included (written by Mark Morgan unless otherwise noted)... 
Old Testament stories: 
Mother-to-be 
On dry ground 
I was just thinking… 
My son – given to God 
Obed-edom 
The God of Big Things (by Cathy Morgan) 
What I have vowed, I will pay (by Cathy Morgan) 
The Prophetess and the Book 
Passover Preparations 
Habakkuk’s Complaints 
Fingers of fear 
New Testament stories: 
Anna 
Preparing the way 
A Samaritan Wedding 
Drink my blood 
A thankful Samaritan 
Why won’t she help? 
The plot that failed 
Guarding the dying 
The Tale of Tabitha (by Laura Morgan) 
Outrage! 
One wet night

Ver livro

The Road to Resilience - Velma's...

G. L. Gooding

Based on the life of author G. L. Gooding's mother, Velma Steele, The Road to Resilience continues the saga first introduced in Where Courage Began. There, the audience met five-year-old Velma, her young siblings, and her suddenly widowed mother Alice. Now, it's Christmas Day 1924, and young Velma is still breathless from the dramatic events of the previous night. She remembers with joy participating along with many of her community in rallying around an isolated family in a moment of great need. 
 
 
 
As years pass, Velma continues working hard at school and putting in endless hours helping her widowed mother and older sister. Together they support the family during the economic hardships in rural America that foreshadowed the Great Depression of the 1930s. Uprooted yet again by this national tragedy, the family's indomitable spirit and endless spunk help sustain them. Along the way, Velma begins to envision a brighter future in spite of continuing hardship. Then, as a young woman, Velma meets handsome Jack Gooding and in the briefest of time, realizes she has found her one true love. Now equipped with hard earned life skills, she feels confident in facing the vagaries of life with Jack at her side. Together they begin pursuit of shared dreams amid a turbulent world. All too soon, however, her resilience and courage must endure the greatest challenge yet.

Ver livro