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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This story is rather convoluted, and therefore, difficult to summarize. It is, however, a good one, although it took me a while to get into it.
So, we have Harry Feversham, who is a young army officer and the son of a crusty old General. Feversham is affianced to Ethne Eustace, who is everything one could ever want in a woman, and also an amazing violinist. While having dinner with some military friends, Feversham gets a phone call. We learn later that the call tells him that his regiment is about to be sent off to Egypt/Sudan. He doesn't tell his friends about the content of the call. He then sends in his resignation because he doesn't want to put off his wedding...or something.
Well, later on, Feversham's military friends learn about the call, and decide his resignation was an act of cowardice. So the three of them send him a letter containing three white feathers. The feathers are a sign that they know of his cowardice. Unfortunately for Feversham, he is with Ethne when he opens the letter. Once she understands the import of the message, she breaks a feather off her fan, hands it to Feversham and then also breaks off their engagement.
Feversham goes through a few months of deep depression, but eventually decides he must atone for his mistake. So, off he goes to Egypt/Sudan to search out ways to contribute to the effort and also to help out his friends who are there. He hangs around the market places pretending to be a Greek merchant until he figures out what best to do.
So the rest of the book is about Feversham's attempts, the redemption of the feathers, how the redeemed feathers get sent back to Ethne so she'll know Feversham is noble after all, and such like.
Well, along the way, Feversham's best friend, Col. Jack Durrance, decides to try to win Ethne for himself. But he's not sure that she's not still carrying a torch for Feversham. He also goes blind in the Egyptian/Sudanese desert. But in his blindness he can tell many things by sounds and hesitations and the like. As I mentioned above, Ethne is an amazing violinist. One of the most beloved pieces she plays is called the Musoline Overture. Durrance decides his fate, so to speak, by the way Ethne plays this piece for him. You'll have to read the book to figure out his fate.
As nearly as I can tell, there is no such piece as the Musoline Overture. Some folks suggest that it might be a misspelling of the Melusine Overture. Frankly, I can't figure out how this orchestral piece can be rendered in any reasonable fashion for solo violin. There are piano arrangements available, which call for two pianos and eight hands. But no solo piano, let alone solo violin.
So, we have Harry Feversham, who is a young army officer and the son of a crusty old General. Feversham is affianced to Ethne Eustace, who is everything one could ever want in a woman, and also an amazing violinist. While having dinner with some military friends, Feversham gets a phone call. We learn later that the call tells him that his regiment is about to be sent off to Egypt/Sudan. He doesn't tell his friends about the content of the call. He then sends in his resignation because he doesn't want to put off his wedding...or something.
Well, later on, Feversham's military friends learn about the call, and decide his resignation was an act of cowardice. So the three of them send him a letter containing three white feathers. The feathers are a sign that they know of his cowardice. Unfortunately for Feversham, he is with Ethne when he opens the letter. Once she understands the import of the message, she breaks a feather off her fan, hands it to Feversham and then also breaks off their engagement.
Feversham goes through a few months of deep depression, but eventually decides he must atone for his mistake. So, off he goes to Egypt/Sudan to search out ways to contribute to the effort and also to help out his friends who are there. He hangs around the market places pretending to be a Greek merchant until he figures out what best to do.
So the rest of the book is about Feversham's attempts, the redemption of the feathers, how the redeemed feathers get sent back to Ethne so she'll know Feversham is noble after all, and such like.
Well, along the way, Feversham's best friend, Col. Jack Durrance, decides to try to win Ethne for himself. But he's not sure that she's not still carrying a torch for Feversham. He also goes blind in the Egyptian/Sudanese desert. But in his blindness he can tell many things by sounds and hesitations and the like. As I mentioned above, Ethne is an amazing violinist. One of the most beloved pieces she plays is called the Musoline Overture. Durrance decides his fate, so to speak, by the way Ethne plays this piece for him. You'll have to read the book to figure out his fate.
As nearly as I can tell, there is no such piece as the Musoline Overture. Some folks suggest that it might be a misspelling of the Melusine Overture. Frankly, I can't figure out how this orchestral piece can be rendered in any reasonable fashion for solo violin. There are piano arrangements available, which call for two pianos and eight hands. But no solo piano, let alone solo violin.
Tästä tuli mieleen, että mitä saa kun sekoittaa Jane Austenin ja Wilbur Smithin.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Harry Feversham decides to quit his regiment just as it called to action in the Sudan. He receives three white feathers, a sign of cowardice, from this fellow officers, with another feather from his wife-to-be. Of course, he has to find a way to return the feathers. I had absolutely no interest in ‘empire’ until I did a course at university on popular fiction and film in the interwar years. I must have watched at least two or three interwar versions of this movie but never read the book which was written and published around the turn of the 20th century. For me, it was the welcome experience of a well written book enhanced by the excellent narration of Ralph Cosham (my ‘hero’ narrator from the early Armand Gamache novels of Louise Penny). A three star read that gave me four star satisfaction.
Ethne is the worst. Something happens with the last third of the book that is incredible. The chapters with Harry and Trench in Omdurman are fantastic. Every character in the book is trying their best to be a good person.
This novel really surprised me. A friend had spoken well of it, and it came up for one of my Goodreads groups. I enjoyed the historical element; I always enjoy large sweeping dramatic epics, and there's tons of drama in the Empire's North African campaign. From the intensely dismal foreign prison to urban life in Cairo and London, there's a lot of lush detail. At points you feel like you should try to shake the sand out of your shoes; Mason really evokes the dry, and not in a British way ;)
The most impressive element of the narrative is the role of honor and responsibility in this book. It's so much more than just Harry Feversham trying to find redemption. Harry's actions wind up teaching all close to him of honor. The novel almost winds up with a bow on it, but don't let that dismay you. It's not really a romance.
The most impressive element of the narrative is the role of honor and responsibility in this book. It's so much more than just Harry Feversham trying to find redemption. Harry's actions wind up teaching all close to him of honor. The novel almost winds up with a bow on it, but don't let that dismay you. It's not really a romance.
was very excited to read this book. Of all the choices I made for my classics challenge for this year, I was certain that I would enjoy this novel the most. In this case, my expectations were not met, and although I did ultimately enjoy this book, it will never be a favorite.
The Four Feathers is the story of Harry Feversham, an English officer, who is descended from a long line of military heroes and expected to follow in their footsteps. One night, as a boy, Harry is present when his father and fellow Crimean war veterans are relating the tales of their military exploits. That night, they also happen to relate two stories of cowardice, which so distress young, sensitive, and impressionable Harry, that he is convinced from that time forward that he is himself a coward at his core. Years later, after becoming engaged to the beguiling Ethne Eustace, Harry is in the company of three friends when he receives a telegram notifying him that his regiment will soon leave for the Sudan. Harry resigns his commission, and ultimately receives three feathers from his once fellow officers and friends, as well as a fourth from Ethne as she breaks their engagement. Having lost everything he values, Harry begins a quest to redeem his shattered honor, and force those who have charged him with cowardice to recognize his worth.
Prior to having read the novel, I had seen two movie adaptations. In both cases, the films contained quite a bit of action, intrigue, and hair-raising escapes. As I read the novel, I was somewhat surprised to find that the majority of the narrative resides in England and Ireland, and focuses particularly on the characters of Ethne and Jack Durrance, once Harry's greatest friend. Durrance is a great character; he is a born soldier who finds himself unexpectedly handicapped and forced to adapt in ways he had never expected. His honor is in some ways even greater than Harry's, and the ways in which he and Ethne relate to each other as romantic adversaries is interesting. However, I found myself longing to read about Harry. So much of Harry's story is told in hearsay and vague allusion by other characters that I found myself getting somewhat frustrated. For me, the last 70 pages of the book were the best as I was finally able to read about Harry and some of the situations in which he found himself.
Despite my frustrations, there are many things to love about this book. The three main characters of the book are all studies in self-sacrifice for the good of others. If you enjoyed any of the film adaptations of the story, you may want to give the novel a try.
The Four Feathers is the story of Harry Feversham, an English officer, who is descended from a long line of military heroes and expected to follow in their footsteps. One night, as a boy, Harry is present when his father and fellow Crimean war veterans are relating the tales of their military exploits. That night, they also happen to relate two stories of cowardice, which so distress young, sensitive, and impressionable Harry, that he is convinced from that time forward that he is himself a coward at his core. Years later, after becoming engaged to the beguiling Ethne Eustace, Harry is in the company of three friends when he receives a telegram notifying him that his regiment will soon leave for the Sudan. Harry resigns his commission, and ultimately receives three feathers from his once fellow officers and friends, as well as a fourth from Ethne as she breaks their engagement. Having lost everything he values, Harry begins a quest to redeem his shattered honor, and force those who have charged him with cowardice to recognize his worth.
Prior to having read the novel, I had seen two movie adaptations. In both cases, the films contained quite a bit of action, intrigue, and hair-raising escapes. As I read the novel, I was somewhat surprised to find that the majority of the narrative resides in England and Ireland, and focuses particularly on the characters of Ethne and Jack Durrance, once Harry's greatest friend. Durrance is a great character; he is a born soldier who finds himself unexpectedly handicapped and forced to adapt in ways he had never expected. His honor is in some ways even greater than Harry's, and the ways in which he and Ethne relate to each other as romantic adversaries is interesting. However, I found myself longing to read about Harry. So much of Harry's story is told in hearsay and vague allusion by other characters that I found myself getting somewhat frustrated. For me, the last 70 pages of the book were the best as I was finally able to read about Harry and some of the situations in which he found himself.
Despite my frustrations, there are many things to love about this book. The three main characters of the book are all studies in self-sacrifice for the good of others. If you enjoyed any of the film adaptations of the story, you may want to give the novel a try.
Maybe the definition of "cowardice" has changed so much in the past 100ish years that the main character's motivation is no longer believable. It just seemed ridiculous to me. I stopped reading about 75 pages in.
Where to start? I believe if I broke this book into sections & analyzed it, it would be closer to 3 stars, but dang it--I can't help it. This book makes me happy.
But in the interest of fairness, let's at least touch on each individual area.
Writing:
I enjoyed the writing. I love being swept into the heyday of the British Empire--a time when the sun truly never set on her holdings & when she with all her failings, had also much to recommend her. So, the writing is not modern, but it is easy to follow and understand. The pacing lags a bit in the last quarter of the book & one does have the urge to cry, "Get on with it, man," but this was not a fatal error--merely an annoyance.
Plot & characters
Love the premise. It made for a great story. For me, though, the make or break point is the characters, & I fell in love with these people--even the minor ones were often very well-drawn. There was Harry with his courage, Ethne with her clear grey eyes and steadfastness, Durrance with his perceptiveness and determination to set things right, Sutch with his sense of responsibility, and General Faversham who really only understands duty and brute courage ...and I could go on, as even the minor characters are clear in my head. That's a remarkable feat.
Profundity
Yes, yes, & yes. Whilst some deride this as a simple adventure tale, it's clear that powerful themes of the age shine through. This is the story of Harry's redemption and how his journey affects those he loves. I can't go into detail without giving away spoilers so I'll stop there. But it is also a story that asks you to define courage. Aren't the most courageous those who suffer the great agonies off what ifs, but move forward regardless when the moment is upon them?
So really what's not to like? Redemption, courage, honor, integrity, loyalty, & friendship, I repeat--what's not to like??
But in the interest of fairness, let's at least touch on each individual area.
Writing:
I enjoyed the writing. I love being swept into the heyday of the British Empire--a time when the sun truly never set on her holdings & when she with all her failings, had also much to recommend her. So, the writing is not modern, but it is easy to follow and understand. The pacing lags a bit in the last quarter of the book & one does have the urge to cry, "Get on with it, man," but this was not a fatal error--merely an annoyance.
Plot & characters
Love the premise. It made for a great story. For me, though, the make or break point is the characters, & I fell in love with these people--even the minor ones were often very well-drawn. There was Harry with his courage, Ethne with her clear grey eyes and steadfastness, Durrance with his perceptiveness and determination to set things right, Sutch with his sense of responsibility, and General Faversham who really only understands duty and brute courage ...and I could go on, as even the minor characters are clear in my head. That's a remarkable feat.
Profundity
Yes, yes, & yes. Whilst some deride this as a simple adventure tale, it's clear that powerful themes of the age shine through. This is the story of Harry's redemption and how his journey affects those he loves. I can't go into detail without giving away spoilers so I'll stop there. But it is also a story that asks you to define courage. Aren't the most courageous those who suffer the great agonies off what ifs, but move forward regardless when the moment is upon them?
So really what's not to like? Redemption, courage, honor, integrity, loyalty, & friendship, I repeat--what's not to like??
I have very mixed feelings about this book. First of all, the language- it is so beautifully and poetically written. Second of all, some of the character’s development was fascinating to watch as the book progressed- Some went through very hard things and grew and developed in beautiful ways through it. On the other hand, some of the characters seemed very unnecessary to the story at all, and yet over half the story was spent in examination of their point of view. Also it was not entirely adventure genre, which is what I was expecting and hoping for- the best part, and only part that could be rightly categorized as adventure, was the last quarter of the book, and the bits in between the drama occurring back in England when they were describing the desert and events there. Durrance- I could care less for, Ethne was a cool character but the depth spent in her narration could have been shortened by at least half. And I wish more time had been spent with Harry and his actions in trying to redeem himself. He spent three years in the city’s of the Sudan and we hear of none of it. Lastly, it has not aged well. It’s white-centric, imperialist views were painful to read. In summation I loved it, except for certain parts that I hated. Does that make sense?