When I Was King by Barry Pain (1924)
A short story about a man who, after being king for a day, realizes that the power and responsibility that comes with ruling has changed him irrevocably.
By Barry Pain · First published 1924 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Political · 2,882 words
First lines
I was in a part of the country where it is a good deal safer to kill a child than to take a pheasant. There are more people to look after the pheasants. I have always felt as if a man who could get his bird without a gun and cook it without a kitchen had a kind of right to the bird. An empty stomach is an argument too. Well, I got my bird, and then Bates got me. He is a big man and can use his hands. But all the same I am ready for him, man to man, at any time. He had three to help him that time, and that was why I had to stand up and look penitent while old White-whiskers talked nonsense before he sent me to prison.
What this Textopian page supports
When I Was King is listed on Textopian as a short story by Barry Pain, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Barry Pain
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Political
- Length: 2,882 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for When I Was King by Barry Pain
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering When I Was King?
- How does this short story by Barry Pain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Pearls And The Swine by Barry Pain
- The Debatable Land by Arthur Willis Colton
- Another Wolf Story by James Baldwin
- Martin Fierro by Jorge Luis Borges
- Soldiers Pay by William Faulkner
- Gilead Balm Knight Errant by Bernard Capes
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in a historical period and revolves around the personal and political struggles of the protagonist, which is typically representative of historical fiction.
- Adventure — The protagonist's numerous exploits and challenges present an element of adventure.
- Political — The story delves into dynamics of power, leadership, and political maneuverings relevant to the protagonist's reign as king.
Tags
Fiction · Short stories · Literary fiction · Modernist literature · Experimental fiction · Symbolism · Allegory · Autobiographical fiction · Stream of consciousness · First-person narrative · Mental illness · Psychological drama