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The Scarlet Sword
In Kashmir, a small expatriate community seek shelter from the fighting in a Catholic mission. But the tribesmen who sweep down from the hills are bent on rape and massacre. And the mission is in their path. For ten days, the inhabitants suffer occupation, before finally being liberated by the British Army. But even when surrounded by chaos and senseless destruction they still manage to find hope - in God, in action, in each other.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
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About the author
H.E. Bates
278 books195 followersHerbert Ernest Bates, CBE is widely recognised as one of the finest short story writers of his generation, with more than 20 story collections published in his lifetime. It should not be overlooked, however, that he also wrote some outstanding novels, starting with The Two Sisters through to A Moment in Time, with such works as Love For Lydia, Fair Stood the Wind for France and The Scarlet Sword earning high praise from the critics. His study of the Modern Short Story is considered one of the best ever written on the subject.
He was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire and was educated at Kettering Grammar School. After leaving school, he was briefly a newspaper reporter and a warehouse clerk, but his heart was always in writing and his dream to be able to make a living by his pen.
Many of his stories depict life in the rural Midlands of England, particularly his native Northamptonshire. Bates was partial to taking long midnight walks around the Northamptonshire countryside - and this often provided the inspiration for his stories. Bates was a great lover of the countryside and its people and this is exemplified in two volumes of essays entitled Through the Woods and Down the River.
In 1931, he married Madge Cox, his sweetheart from the next road in his native Rushden. They moved to the village of Little Chart in Kent and bought an old granary and this together with an acre of garden they converted into a home. It was in this phase of his life that he found the inspiration for the Larkins series of novels -The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, etc. - and the Uncle Silas tales. Not surprisingly, these highly successful novels inspired television series that were immensely popular.
His collection of stories written while serving in the RAF during World War II, best known by the title The Stories of Flying Officer X, but previously published as Something in the Air (a compilation of his two wartime collections under the pseudonym 'Flying Officer X' and titled The Greatest People in the World and How Sleep the Brave), deserve particular attention. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Squadron Leader.
Bates was influenced by Chekhov in particular, and his knowledge of the history of the short story is obvious from the famous study he produced on the subject. He also wrote his autobiography in three volumes (each delightfully illustrated) which were subsequently published in a one-volume Autobiography.
Bates was a keen and knowledgeable gardener and wrote numerous books on flowers. The Granary remained their home for the whole of their married life. After the death of H. E Bates, Madge moved to a bungalow, which had originally been a cow byre, next to the Granary. She died in 2004 at age 95. They raised two sons and two daughters.
primarily from Wikipedia, with additions by Keith Farnsworth
He was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire and was educated at Kettering Grammar School. After leaving school, he was briefly a newspaper reporter and a warehouse clerk, but his heart was always in writing and his dream to be able to make a living by his pen.
Many of his stories depict life in the rural Midlands of England, particularly his native Northamptonshire. Bates was partial to taking long midnight walks around the Northamptonshire countryside - and this often provided the inspiration for his stories. Bates was a great lover of the countryside and its people and this is exemplified in two volumes of essays entitled Through the Woods and Down the River.
In 1931, he married Madge Cox, his sweetheart from the next road in his native Rushden. They moved to the village of Little Chart in Kent and bought an old granary and this together with an acre of garden they converted into a home. It was in this phase of his life that he found the inspiration for the Larkins series of novels -The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, etc. - and the Uncle Silas tales. Not surprisingly, these highly successful novels inspired television series that were immensely popular.
His collection of stories written while serving in the RAF during World War II, best known by the title The Stories of Flying Officer X, but previously published as Something in the Air (a compilation of his two wartime collections under the pseudonym 'Flying Officer X' and titled The Greatest People in the World and How Sleep the Brave), deserve particular attention. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Squadron Leader.
Bates was influenced by Chekhov in particular, and his knowledge of the history of the short story is obvious from the famous study he produced on the subject. He also wrote his autobiography in three volumes (each delightfully illustrated) which were subsequently published in a one-volume Autobiography.
Bates was a keen and knowledgeable gardener and wrote numerous books on flowers. The Granary remained their home for the whole of their married life. After the death of H. E Bates, Madge moved to a bungalow, which had originally been a cow byre, next to the Granary. She died in 2004 at age 95. They raised two sons and two daughters.
primarily from Wikipedia, with additions by Keith Farnsworth
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 4, 2021
The action in The Scarlet Sword—and there is quite a surprising amount of action—takes place in a small Catholic mission school on a hillside in Kashmir. Author H. E. Bates has assembled an appropriate number of characters (somewhat stereotypical characters in some cases) to advance his dramatic story. I say “assembled,” for it is not fully clear how some of these people got here and what they are doing.
These include: serious Father Anstey, lovable and comical Father Simpson; Colonel Mathieson and his wife; Julie Maxted and her mother; a silent, chain-smoking, painted Hindu woman, whom readers might conclude is a prostitute searching for salvation; a husband-and-wife doctor team; a plainspoken Scottish nurse from Glasgow; and Crane, a seasoned war journalist, jaded, cynical, without even a hint of looking for a newsworthy story. In addition, there are a few dozen children and other administrative helpers seeing to the running of the mission school.
The time of the drama is late 1947. One assumes it is the early days and weeks of India achieving independence on the heels of the departing British. But it is an untidy transition: while the country’s big divisions of India and Pakistan are easy to grasp, less so are a number of princely states, which are told to choose for themselves which of these “dominions” they wished to join—Kashmir was one such state. However, the ruling Maharajah is conflicted with no easy choice: if he accedes to India, the Kashmiri Muslim majority will be unhappy, while accession to Pakistan will more than discomfit the Hindu minority. An invasion by Pakistan precipitates his accession to India via asking their help to prevent war. Violence and bloodshed, already a characteristic of a messy independence, is inevitable.
The Catholic mission becomes a casualty when the Muslim Pathans and Afridis swarm down from the hills to get their share of the religious, political, and tribal warfare. Without sufficient discrimination they attack, kill, pillage, and rape. Mrs. Maxted is the single white European killed on day one, and there are clear signs that the bloodthirsty mood of the soldiers would escalate by day two.
The stage is set for numerous acts of courage and quiet heroism amongst many survivors from day one. Despite physical beating, Father Simpson boldly sets out to search for missing people. Dr. Baretta, an Anglo-Indian who is raped, nonetheless treats the wounded, Muslim and Hindu alike. And Crane and the Colonel set about disguising Hindu women with bold creativity. Stalwart Scottish nurse McAlister defiantly places herself in positions where she can protect others or thwart the actions of drunken soldiers. As is often the case in the midst of violence and brutality, true love will flourish. Julie and Crane find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another, and snatch moments of passion against all odds. The occupation of the mission continues for over a week, during which time it goes from bad to worse. Indiscriminate air attacks jeopardize the lives of all at the mission.
Light research shows that the story is fact-based—a real mission was attacked in Kashmir in the October following the August 15, 1947 establishment of India and Pakistan. However, though Bates lightly describes a two-way Muslim-Hindu aggression in the early pages of the novel, readers may have to resist the belief that the violence was as one-sided as this story might indicate. Nevertheless, as a dramatic story, The Scarlet Sword is a fast and entertaining read. Soon to be added to my list will be the author’s other “India” novels, namely, The Purple Plain and The Jacaranda Tree.
These include: serious Father Anstey, lovable and comical Father Simpson; Colonel Mathieson and his wife; Julie Maxted and her mother; a silent, chain-smoking, painted Hindu woman, whom readers might conclude is a prostitute searching for salvation; a husband-and-wife doctor team; a plainspoken Scottish nurse from Glasgow; and Crane, a seasoned war journalist, jaded, cynical, without even a hint of looking for a newsworthy story. In addition, there are a few dozen children and other administrative helpers seeing to the running of the mission school.
The time of the drama is late 1947. One assumes it is the early days and weeks of India achieving independence on the heels of the departing British. But it is an untidy transition: while the country’s big divisions of India and Pakistan are easy to grasp, less so are a number of princely states, which are told to choose for themselves which of these “dominions” they wished to join—Kashmir was one such state. However, the ruling Maharajah is conflicted with no easy choice: if he accedes to India, the Kashmiri Muslim majority will be unhappy, while accession to Pakistan will more than discomfit the Hindu minority. An invasion by Pakistan precipitates his accession to India via asking their help to prevent war. Violence and bloodshed, already a characteristic of a messy independence, is inevitable.
The Catholic mission becomes a casualty when the Muslim Pathans and Afridis swarm down from the hills to get their share of the religious, political, and tribal warfare. Without sufficient discrimination they attack, kill, pillage, and rape. Mrs. Maxted is the single white European killed on day one, and there are clear signs that the bloodthirsty mood of the soldiers would escalate by day two.
The stage is set for numerous acts of courage and quiet heroism amongst many survivors from day one. Despite physical beating, Father Simpson boldly sets out to search for missing people. Dr. Baretta, an Anglo-Indian who is raped, nonetheless treats the wounded, Muslim and Hindu alike. And Crane and the Colonel set about disguising Hindu women with bold creativity. Stalwart Scottish nurse McAlister defiantly places herself in positions where she can protect others or thwart the actions of drunken soldiers. As is often the case in the midst of violence and brutality, true love will flourish. Julie and Crane find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another, and snatch moments of passion against all odds. The occupation of the mission continues for over a week, during which time it goes from bad to worse. Indiscriminate air attacks jeopardize the lives of all at the mission.
Light research shows that the story is fact-based—a real mission was attacked in Kashmir in the October following the August 15, 1947 establishment of India and Pakistan. However, though Bates lightly describes a two-way Muslim-Hindu aggression in the early pages of the novel, readers may have to resist the belief that the violence was as one-sided as this story might indicate. Nevertheless, as a dramatic story, The Scarlet Sword is a fast and entertaining read. Soon to be added to my list will be the author’s other “India” novels, namely, The Purple Plain and The Jacaranda Tree.
July 8, 2022
A story which is in microcosm all the brutality and insanity of religious wars that ever were and ever are.
The Scarlet Sword [1950] is, perhaps surprisingly, an excellent 'little' book - surprising perhaps because it is so little heard of in relation to Fair Stood the Wind for France [1971] and of course The Darling Buds Of May [1958].
The fourth War novel (after Fair Stood the Wind for France, The Purple Plain [1947] and The Jacaranda Tree [1949]), of many novels and novellas, this post-war story is set in 1947/8 around a Catholic mission in the high hills of Kashmir after the Partition. It is a devastating reminder of the entrenched brutal tribalism that existed in India and Pakistan at the time, and for some time after the Partition, Kashmir being famously a madhouse of murderous fighting between them for too many years (till 1999!) - even though the majority of the population was Muslim, and so naturally aligned with Pakistan.
The beauty of the place is evoked by Bates's unique relentless understatement, a style of strangely homely metaphors (the mountains of starch) that pin the characters who observe them. Seen principally through the deeply personal sufferings and hearty camaraderie of the priests, nuns, doctor and visiting Europeans seeing the Hindu women at the mission being horrendously ravaged by the backward tribal brutality of their attackers, this dense work is charged with a personal sympathy for their terrible plight and fortitude in their otherwise helplessness.
I am very and pleasantly surprised at how affecting this excellent 'little' story is, how deeply you become embedded in the strong sense of community which these few struggling people create amidst their suffering, and the vividness of the depiction of the brutal chaos of those wars. It has inspired me, a long-time fan, to read more of Bates, sooner than planned.
The Scarlet Sword [1950] is, perhaps surprisingly, an excellent 'little' book - surprising perhaps because it is so little heard of in relation to Fair Stood the Wind for France [1971] and of course The Darling Buds Of May [1958].
The fourth War novel (after Fair Stood the Wind for France, The Purple Plain [1947] and The Jacaranda Tree [1949]), of many novels and novellas, this post-war story is set in 1947/8 around a Catholic mission in the high hills of Kashmir after the Partition. It is a devastating reminder of the entrenched brutal tribalism that existed in India and Pakistan at the time, and for some time after the Partition, Kashmir being famously a madhouse of murderous fighting between them for too many years (till 1999!) - even though the majority of the population was Muslim, and so naturally aligned with Pakistan.
The beauty of the place is evoked by Bates's unique relentless understatement, a style of strangely homely metaphors (the mountains of starch) that pin the characters who observe them. Seen principally through the deeply personal sufferings and hearty camaraderie of the priests, nuns, doctor and visiting Europeans seeing the Hindu women at the mission being horrendously ravaged by the backward tribal brutality of their attackers, this dense work is charged with a personal sympathy for their terrible plight and fortitude in their otherwise helplessness.
I am very and pleasantly surprised at how affecting this excellent 'little' story is, how deeply you become embedded in the strong sense of community which these few struggling people create amidst their suffering, and the vividness of the depiction of the brutal chaos of those wars. It has inspired me, a long-time fan, to read more of Bates, sooner than planned.
February 13, 2021
Here’s another semi-psychological novel about the states of mind of characters in an extreme environment (cf Black Narcissus), and again set in a convent in Northern India. But this is much more effective. It’s set in 1947 Kashmir, and a group of Europeans is caught in the middle of fighting between various factions. It’s bloody and brutal, and several of the main characters die, but their behaviours, motivations and fears are clear, and the writing is vivid and descriptive. The only weakness is a deus ex machina dénouement (as in Lord of the Flies) which tends to undermine the remorseless logic of the rest of the action; otherwise this is an impressive novel.
October 4, 2020
I first read this book in 1981 and it has been quietly sitting on my bookshelf all these years, having survived numerous moves and book cullings. I was uncertain why I hung onto this book all this time, but upon rereading it I am glad I did. I love books about India; maybe that’s why I kept it. It is a short book written in mid-century style, which to me means solid prose with richness of detail and mood but not encumbered by the excess verbiage typical of 19th century literature. I’ll hang on to the book. Maybe I will read it again in another 39 years. I will be 101 years old.
August 7, 2021
In ‘The Scarlet Sword’, H E Bates writes vividly of ten agonising days in a Roman Catholic mission station in India. The story unfolds during the run-up to partition, the final days in which India managed to throw off it’s colonial suppressors. It is a time of violence and fear, of mutilation and death. Though not everyone survives and the horrors they experienced are all too vividly described, there are many notes of hope. In particular, there are numerous individual attempts to keep positive which include moments of humour in dark times. The courageous Father Simpson who helps run the mission station and their visitor, the British reporter, Crane, are unwavering and determined in their drive to save as many as they can. The retired Colonel Mathieson and the steadfast Doctor Baretta, who both suffer losses of their own, are also very much to the fore with all the assistance they render during this time of tremendous crisis. They are not the only ones who show tremendous fortitude in a period of need.
‘The Scarlet Sword’ is a powerful read made all the more so by the author’s excellent command of English. It is particularly recommended for those interested in the turbulent times that were part of the Partition of India, the greatest upheaval in Indian history that saw dissolution of the British Raj and part of India becoming Pakistan when two major provinces, Bengal and Punjab, were divided along Muslim and non-Muslim lines. Though the mission station and its characters are fictional, the author does such a deft job in drawing from numerous bloody events that took place in 1947 in his creation of the ‘The Scarlet Sword’ that it easily reads as one amongst many appalling tragedies that took place when between 10 million and 20 million people were displaced amidst large-scale violence, misery and loss of life during and after India and Pakistan became separate dominions at the stroke of midnight on the 15th of August 1947.
Though I have known much of the history of colonial India and the events that led up to Britain’s relinquishing of its crown colony, I would like to make acknowledgement of a Wikipedia article ‘Partition of India’. It was used to check any factual information in case my memory had become a ‘little grey’ since I had last visited one of the most momentous events in 20th Century history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partiti... Sourced: 5th August 2021
‘The Scarlet Sword’ is a powerful read made all the more so by the author’s excellent command of English. It is particularly recommended for those interested in the turbulent times that were part of the Partition of India, the greatest upheaval in Indian history that saw dissolution of the British Raj and part of India becoming Pakistan when two major provinces, Bengal and Punjab, were divided along Muslim and non-Muslim lines. Though the mission station and its characters are fictional, the author does such a deft job in drawing from numerous bloody events that took place in 1947 in his creation of the ‘The Scarlet Sword’ that it easily reads as one amongst many appalling tragedies that took place when between 10 million and 20 million people were displaced amidst large-scale violence, misery and loss of life during and after India and Pakistan became separate dominions at the stroke of midnight on the 15th of August 1947.
Though I have known much of the history of colonial India and the events that led up to Britain’s relinquishing of its crown colony, I would like to make acknowledgement of a Wikipedia article ‘Partition of India’. It was used to check any factual information in case my memory had become a ‘little grey’ since I had last visited one of the most momentous events in 20th Century history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partiti... Sourced: 5th August 2021
February 15, 2024
A shocking account of the impact of the partition of India on a single Catholic Mission. Some may baulk at the attitudes portrayed but they ring true for the period, drawing humanity and tue callousness of existence from the soaring heights of northern India.
Descriptively adroit, HE Bates draws characters of improbable conviction from the mundane and the remarkable.
Faced with slaughter and the fragility of existence, the characters sheltering in the Mission try to cling to a sense of themselves either by turning inwards or seeking to help those around them. Bravery is really only obvious in tue facd of terror.
Descriptively adroit, HE Bates draws characters of improbable conviction from the mundane and the remarkable.
Faced with slaughter and the fragility of existence, the characters sheltering in the Mission try to cling to a sense of themselves either by turning inwards or seeking to help those around them. Bravery is really only obvious in tue facd of terror.
December 18, 2025
Published in 1950, The Scarlet Sword, written by H.E. Bates is set in 1947 in a small Catholic mission school on a Kashmiri hillside. Bates introduces broadly drawn, sometimes stereotypical characters whose backgrounds are not always clear, but who effectively drive the plot and storyline. Prioritising atmosphere and emotion over strict historical realism, he crafts an engaging, occasionally nostalgic tale of loyalty, conflict, and love. Based on a real 1947 Kashmir attack (I did a little research!), the novel is a fast, entertaining read.
June 16, 2022
A novel of its time, British India in 1947.
Part romance, part drama, part history.
Understated, restrained but surprisingly frank. I loved Janet but will leave you to discover if Crane finally fell for her.
Part romance, part drama, part history.
Understated, restrained but surprisingly frank. I loved Janet but will leave you to discover if Crane finally fell for her.
July 8, 2022
Historical fiction about a war and an area that I knew little about. A few too many characters to keep track of but the author's superb writing kept me engaged and interested in what happened next.
7.5/10
7.5/10
February 13, 2022
Excellent.
Story about people trapped in a Mission on top of a hill in Burma and who survives and who doesn't.
Story about people trapped in a Mission on top of a hill in Burma and who survives and who doesn't.
February 10, 2023
Such a wonderful author! Diverse characters endure being caught between factions fighting a brutal civil war, but far more happens than that. Wonderfully rendered.
April 8, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. I enjoy historical fiction and this book was very powerful. A far cry from The Darling Buds of May!
August 14, 2023
An interesting story - very much of its time.
April 2, 2025
Between a 3 and a 4. Very evocative, beautiful creation of place and a fascinating point in history. Just not quite as engaging as I felt it should have been.
February 24, 2024
We are in Kashmir, in 1947, when the separation between Pakistan and India, between Muslims and Hindus, occurs. A Christian mission is attacked by Muslim forces, who carry out all types of violence. The book is from 1950, so some descriptions are fortunately toned down. The scarlet sword of the title is precisely that of the British crown which divides India into two parts, sparking bloody battles and putting an end forever to peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims. The book is interesting and easy to read, except for some sequences in which the protagonists find themselves moving in and around the mission in the dark, on the first night of the attack, which are not very clear. There are some characters who remain in the heart, especially a sweet and clumsy but very courageous priest, and a nurse who will eventually see the man she fell in love with leave with another woman.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews