Retro Reads discussion

'The solitary bird, its beak agape in the simmering heat, had been dozing on the branch of a stunted pine near the crest of the pass....'

From Ford o' Kabul River
by Rudyard Kipling:

Kabul town’s a blasted place—
Blow the bugle, draw the sword...

Kabul town is sun and dust—
Blow the bugle, draw the sword...

Kabul town was ours to take—
Blow the bugle, draw the sword...

http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets...

Ch. 61, p. 851: "Ah well, as Gul Baz would say "All things are with God". 'Ave, Ashton, morituri te salutant!' He flung up an arm in the Roman salute and strode off singing 'Kathleen Mavourneen'...."

"It may be for years and it may be forever..."

Okay I could not resist googling this one--my mother loves John McCormack. So listen to this incomparable Irish tenor singing about the girl he knew he was leaving behind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Ntc...

Hana wrote: "Ch. 61, p. 851: "Ah well, as Gul Baz would say "All things are with God". 'Ave, Ashton, morituri te salutant!' He flung up an arm in the Roman salute and strode off singing 'Kathleen Mavourneen'......"

That's so sad...

Only to be read after finishing. Hana, I was afraid you might google (view spoiler)[Lt Walter Hamilton, one of the men the book is dedicated to, and discover he died in defense of the Residency.

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces...

and a mention of The Far Pavilions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_H...

Oh dear Wally. *sniff* (hide spoiler)]

Wow! I just finished. What an ending!

Diane Lynn wrote: "Only to be read after finishing. ..."

Thanks you! That was a really good photo of him--such a handsome lad!

100 pages to go! I'll finish today and then open up all these lovely, tempting spoiler tags that you ladies have been leaving like little gifts all over this group discussion. :D

Little gifts, I like that. :D

Me too!! Enjoy, Tadiana :D

Four months of epic struggle and I finally finished. For me, a very uneven book. As Hana says above great ending though.