- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books (Sep 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0142180017
- ISBN-13: 978-0142180013
- Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 13 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 872,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
A E W Mason was educated at Dulwich College and, later, Oxford University. He became an actor and politician, and went on to work for British Naval Intelligence during a long and successful career. But, driven by his love of writing, Mason also wrote over thirty novels, creating Inspector Hanaud, one of the first detectives within the genre of British detective fiction.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having seen a couple of films (tv & cinema) based on this book, the book provides so much more than what the films try to portray which is a pity as there are so many more emotions in the book and they're so beautifully described by AEW Mason. I'm delighted that I've finally read the book and that it was so much more colourful than any multi-dollar/special effects films could ever do. Again - glad to have read it and an eye opener.
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great classic tale of adventure and honour, in the grand tradition of "The Prisoner of Zenda" and "Beau Geste." Harry Feversham, English officer and gentleman, has been terrified since childhood by his father's tales of cowardice under fire and the resulting dishonour. As a young man, when learning that his regiment has been called to action, he resigns his commission unnerved by the possibilities of showing cowardice and facing a horrible death in the Sudan at the hands of the fanatic Madhi's dervishes. Before departing, three of his brother-officers send him white feathers, the symbol of cowardice, and Ethne Eustace, the woman he was to have married, gives him a fourth. In despair, Feversham decides to follows his regiment to Africa, in search of an opportunity to make his former friends take the feathers back. This quest takes him to the grim, dangerous slums of Cairo and a hellish trek across the Sudanese desert, as he penetrates into the heart of the Madhi's infernal domain in Omdurman to rescue rescue the very men who questioned his valor and regain his honour and the respect and love of Ethne.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I suspect that the reason that screenwriters adapting this book concentrate on the daring-do and adventure is that the human interest part isn't very well written. The heroine has no depth (she's unlikeable as well, but that may have been intentional) and the only other significant female character is a mere plot device, discarded as soon as she has played her part. Some of the supporting male characters are well enough drawn, but closer analysis shows that these are all those who are stupid; or perhaps the appropriate term would be stupider - the British Empire does not appear to have been won by intellectual superiority. Mason's inability to inbue his lead actors with any character trait beyond saintliness filtered through a stiff upper lip becomes wearing after a while as does the stereotyping of the Sudanese.
As for the action adventure stuff, there basically isn't any. What heroes there are would seem to be the locals who assist the fugitives, but only two of those have names and neither gets any dialogue. The best written part of the book by far is the description of nights spent in the House of Stone in Omdurman.
As for the action adventure stuff, there basically isn't any. What heroes there are would seem to be the locals who assist the fugitives, but only two of those have names and neither gets any dialogue. The best written part of the book by far is the description of nights spent in the House of Stone in Omdurman.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
`All men would be cowards if they durst' (Rochester)
I embarked on reading A.E. Mason's classic on my Kindle with some trepidation. Twice in the past I had failed to progress beyond the first twenty or so pages. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bob
A great tale
The Four Feathers is a tale of honour. A young gentleman, Harry Feversham, who is descended from a long line of valiant soldiers, is called up with his regiment to fight in the... Read more
Published on 1 April 2000
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