If I Were King is a book written by Justin McCarthy, an Irish author and historian. The book is a work of historical fiction that imagines what would happen if a common man suddenly became the king of a country. The story is set in France during the 15th century, a time when the country was plagued by war and political turmoil.The protagonist of the story is Francois Villon, a poet and thief who is sentenced to death for his crimes. However, before he can be executed, he is given the opportunity to become the king of France for one week. During this time, he uses his wit and charm to win over the people and establish himself as a just and fair ruler.As king, Villon faces a number of challenges, including a rebellion by the nobles and a threat of invasion by the English. He also falls in love with a beautiful woman named Katherine, who becomes his queen. Despite the obstacles he faces, Villon manages to maintain his hold on power and implement a number of reforms that benefit the people of France.If I Were King is a compelling and entertaining work of fiction that offers a unique perspective on history. It is a story of adventure, romance, and political intrigue that will appeal to readers of all ages.1901. Justin Huntly McCarthy, Irish politician, journalist, novelist, and historian. After a long career in journalism, he entered the British Parliament, advocating home rule for Ireland. He was at first a supporter of, then head of the opposition to, Charles Parnell. He is best known for his novel If I Were King, which he based on the life of the vagabond poet, Fran�����ois Villon. His later dramatization of the novel became the basis for the operetta The Vagabond King. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.