The Drum

by A.E.W. Mason

Action novella, set in the North-West Frontier Province of what was then British India, but would shortly become Pakistan. Of this political revolution there is no hint in Mason's novella, let alone any questioning of what exactly the British were doing there. Rather, we have a skilfully narrated and enjoyable vignette of life on the North-West Frontier, featuring Captain Frank Carruthers, who at the invitation of the Khan of Tokot is being sent to establish a British Agency in the Khan's territory. Some of the placenames and details will seem strangely contemporary to modern readers, since the region is often in our headlines.

73 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Major Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (7 May 1865 Dulwich, London - 22 November 1948 London) was a British author and politician. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel The Four Feathers.

He studied at Dulwich College and graduated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1888. He was a contemporary of fellow Liberal Anthony Hope, who went on to write the adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda.

His first novel, A Romance of Wastdale, was published in 1895. He was the author of more than 20 books, including At The Villa Rose (1910), a mystery novel in which he introduced his French detective, Inspector Hanaud. His best-known book is The Four Feathers, which has been made into several films. Many consider it his masterpiece. Other books are The House of the Arrow (1924), No Other Tiger (1927), The Prisoner in the Opal (1929) and Fire Over England (1937).

Reviews

[Andy Davis]

Heroic Indian prince helps save a British administrator and wins back his kingdom. There are good Indians and bad Indians and, of course, the good ones are sympathetic to the British. The children's adventure story is therefore in the traditions of Kipling. The other plot resolves around a traditional drum with a mythology around it which comes to stand for a wrong of the prince's that must be put right. As with Mason's 4 Feathers duty is a key theme. I should find the movie. I do like The 1930s 4 Feathers and the remake wasn't bad - not read that book yet.

[Neer]

Good adventure yarn. More here: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpr...

[Victoria Jackson]

Quite short, very readable, set in India