The King of the Mountains

"The King of the Mountains" by Edmond About is a story told through Hermann Schultz, a German botanist, who finds himself in Greece where he hears tales of Hadgi-Stavros, otherwise known as "The King of the Mountains," a well-known brigand. Schultz, through new friendships with locals and other people living there, learns more about the tensions caused by bandits. At first, Schultz meets a botanist also named Hermann, who tells him about being kidnapped by Hadgi-Stavros. Their talks explore Schultz's interest in brigands, leading him to think about whether it's right to respect relationships with such famous figures. The book creates a setting full of adventure, cultural differences between Western settlers and Greek customs, and a touch of romance.