The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye
A Book Review
The Far Pavilions is an epic novel by M.M. Kaye set in India during the time of the British Raj. It’s billed as a historical romance and the modern Penguin cover depicts a sari-clad lady gazing longingly at distant mountains.
Don't be fooled by the Mills and Boon vibe.
There is a love story that winds through the book but the historical detail and the author’s deep understanding of India under British rule make it far more than that.
About the novel
Ashton Pelham-Martyn is born in India shortly before the Second Sepoy Uprising in 1857.
His British parents lead a scholarly but nomadic life in India. His father, Hilary, is a botanist. His mother, Isabel, dies shortly after he is born but his distracted, bookish father never gets around to informing anyone official of Ash’s birth.
Ash’s care is delegated to his Indian wet nurse, or ayah, Sita, and a retired ex- cavalry officer, Sirdar Akbar Khan. When historical events overtake the nomadic camp they live in, he is raised as a Hindu. Later in the story, he is forced to accept his British heritage and travel to Victorian England.
Throughout the story, Ash finds himself trapped between his Indian sympathies and the prejudices of Raj…
