First published 2017
This collection opens with Kipling's adventure of two British rogues scheming to become kings in remote Afghanistan. The anthology moves from colonial frontiers to intimate domestic spaces across six distinct stories. A Chinese girl navigates her graduation and future prospects. Mary Beaumont explores themes of racial identity and revenge. In the Australian goldfields, King Billy rules his rough territory of Ballarat. Netta Syrett examines the gap between desire and reality in matters of the heart. Miss Mitford's Tajima reveals the complexities of cross-cultural encounters. Each story captures characters at pivotal moments where personal ambitions collide with social constraints. The collection spans continents and cultures, from the dusty mountains of Afghanistan to the bustling streets of colonial Australia. These authors write with the confidence of their era, depicting worlds where empires expand and individuals struggle to carve out their own kingdoms, whether literal or metaphorical.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, coming-of-age, cultural-clash
Setting: Afghanistan, Australia, Ballarat, China
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century, Colonial Era
138 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform