Daren
Set in the Indian Rebellion / Sepoy Mutiny of 1854 in India, Bond presents this story as a tale he recalls being told by his father. His father was born in Shahjahanpur, where the story takes place.
After a brief introduction, he hands over to Ruth Labadoor to tell the story - her story of a British family and their survival in the Rebellion.
It begins the day that Shahjahanpur was taken in rebellion, where she and her father were attending church, and her father was slain. Running home to her mother, she finds the house in the cantonment already in flames. She is intercepted by a neighbour and reunited with her mother, grandmother and cousin, her mothers half brother, his mother and their servants. They were in a neighbours house, being protected from the rioters, looters and those seeking blood - whether innocent or not.
An so Ruth tells the story of their time through the rebellion, and how they were abducted from the safety of their neighbours house by a Pathan leader who was aroused by Ruth, despite her big only thirteen, and wanted her for a second wife. As such they were brought to his house, and kept in protection there, although Ruth's mother evaded giving permission, stalls for time.
As so we are shown how the wife of Javed Khan (the Pathan) extends sympathy to he family and how his wife, Khan's aunt and Khan's wife's sister, both of who take turns at having the family stay with them. All are sympathetic, and none with for Ruth's mother to give in to Javed Khan.
I won't spoil the story, but this was a short novel, and easily read. Different to the previously Ruskin Bond novels I have read, but good none the less.
4 stars.
Set in the Indian Rebellion / Sepoy Mutiny of 1854 in India, Bond presents this story as a tale he recalls being told by his father. His father was born in Shahjahanpur, where the story takes place.
After a brief introduction, he hands over to Ruth Labadoor to tell the story - her story of a British family and their survival in the Rebellion.
It begins the day that Shahjahanpur was taken in rebellion, where she and her father were attending church, and her father was slain. Running home to her mother, she finds the house in the cantonment already in flames. She is intercepted by a neighbour and reunited with her mother, grandmother and cousin, her mothers half brother, his mother and their servants. They were in a neighbours house, being protected from the rioters, looters and those seeking blood - whether innocent or not.
An so Ruth tells the story of their time through the rebellion, and how they were abducted from the safety of their neighbours house by a Pathan leader who was aroused by Ruth, despite her big only thirteen, and wanted her for a second wife. As such they were brought to his house, and kept in protection there, although Ruth's mother evaded giving permission, stalls for time.
As so we are shown how the wife of Javed Khan (the Pathan) extends sympathy to he family and how his wife, Khan's aunt and Khan's wife's sister, both of who take turns at having the family stay with them. All are sympathetic, and none with for Ruth's mother to give in to Javed Khan.
I won't spoil the story, but this was a short novel, and easily read. Different to the previously Ruskin Bond novels I have read, but good none the less.
4 stars.