A review by evakristin
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye

4.0

The main strength of this book is how Kaye manages to make India come truly alive to this reader. The sounds, smells and sights, the people, the customs, the life in the bazaars and the palaces. Her love for and knowledge about India is obvious.

So why did it still take me more than a month to finish it? Apart from the sometimes agonisingly slow moving plot, I ended up strongly disliking the main character, Ashton Pelham-Martyn.

The first part of the book is a coming of age novel, where we get a fascinating introduction to Indian society through Ash's young eyes. I enjoyed this part.

But then it starts going rapidly downhill for me. The next part is one of the most cringeworthy "love"stories I have ever read.

Here Kaye has Ash fall in love with Anjuli, who of course it a beautiful Indian princess. But if this is what Kaye think love should be like, I feel deeply sorry for her. Because Ash treats his" love" appallingly. Let me give you some examples. Early in their "relationship" Ash tells Juli to come to his tent at night, knowing that if they are discovered she will be killed and he'll be in danger too. Juli comes, and when she, trembling with terror, asks if he isn't scared also, he krushes her wrist with his hand and calls her "a little bitch". Wtf Ash, did she wound your sensitive imperial English pride? Later, the first time they sleep together, which is her first time ever, the most reassuring and tender thing he can think of saying is "I am going to hurt you now.". Real smooth, Ash, take me now. What really topped it for me is this situation right here. Juli wakes up from a nightmare, after having just witnessed her little sister being ritually burned to death, and when Ash takes her in his arms "the physical desire that had once been a living flame between them blazed up in him so fiercely that he would at that moment have sacrificed their hope of safety to be able to take possession of her body and obtain comfort and release for his own..." She just saw her sister die, wtf is wrong with you?! Anjuli, on the other hand, has almost no personality and no character development. She is obviously just there for Ash to rescue. All the more disappointing since this book is written by a woman.

So why four stars, albeit four very weak stars? Partially because of Kaye's ability to make India come vibrantly alive, but mostly for the last part of the book. This is a nerve-wracking military drama set in Kabul, where Ash thankfully only plays a minor part. This I would recommend to anyone.

When it comes to strapping soldiers from imperial England, give me Harry Flashman any day.