title: A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain
author:  Marc Morris 
description: Marc Morriss new account of the life of Edward I is a splendid example of the genre. Edwards life is in many ways an ideal subject for such an approach, full of incident and action. . . . An excellent, readable account of his reign. <i> Literary Review</i>
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  # The Man Who Would Be King
  
  
  ### ***
  
  
  ### Rudyard Kipling
  
    
  
  
  "Brother to a Prince and fellow to a beggar if he be found worthy."
  
  
  The Law, as quoted, lays down a fair conduct of life, and one not easy to
  follow. I have been fellow to a beggar again and again under circumstances
  which prevented either of us finding out whether the other was worthy. I have
  still to be brother to a Prince, though I once came near to kinship with what
  might have been a veritable King and was promised the reversion of a Kingdom
  —army, law–courts, revenue and policy all complete. But, to–day, I greatly
  fear that my King is dead, and if I want a crown I must go and hunt it for
  myself.
  
  
  The beginning of everything was in a railway train upon the road to Mhow from
  Ajmir. There had been a deficit in the Budget, which necessitated travelling,
  not Second–class, which is only half as dear as First–class, but by
  Intermediate, which is very awful indeed. There are no cushions in the
  Int