Nightrunners of Bengal

by John Masters

Book Overview

India, 1857. The British have ruled for 100 years. The Indians are becoming increasingly restive, but their British commanders at Bhowani laugh at the rumors of unrest. And then, on the evening of May... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: B000KKHW1A
• ISBN13: 8601415946963
• Release Date: January 1951
• Publisher: Viking Press
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Great Story

I fall somewhere in between the other two reviewers of this book. I believe this is one of John Master's best books (excepting his autobiographical material) and deserves five stars for the quality of the writing and storytelling. There is no denying the very different perspectives on the events recounted in this book, but I believe that one of the reviewers has forgotten that the story is fictional, told from the viewpoint of the English. There is certainly an equally compelling story to be told from the Indian viewpoint, and I would happily read that story too, but I believe that Master's viewpoint of the events is more nuanced than the other reviewer gives him credit for. Mutiny, rebellion, war for independence, call it what you will, it's a compelling read and I heartily recommend the book, or Patrick Tull's excellent reading of the book on audio.

Meaningless and merciless mutiny

This book reminds me the masterpiece of Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter". Pushkin wrote about the greatest Russian peasant's mutiny, so calles "Pougatchevschina". Masters wrote about the Indian mutiny. The problem is just the same - the price of justice. You can be absolutely politically correct and think that Pougatchev and Rani Sumitra were the greatest patriots possible. You may be absolutely sure that Russian serfdom & British raj are abominable. But the fact is that the victory of Russian peasants or Indian sepoys will be the beginning of chaos. Pushkin wrote about "meaningless and merciless Russian riot". Masters understands what does it mean. As an Anglo-Indian he lived through the downfall of his world and he write about his own hard earned experience . Rodney Savage, the hero, lived through the destruction and death of everything he thought true: his family, his regiment, his faith and his spiritual innocence. This book is about the acquisition of humanity by the man who has to start all over again. "Nightrunners" is a bit old-fashioned. Of cource, Kipling's influence is very strong, but I recommend it to everybody who want to read about the real mutiny & not about the much praised "fight for freedom and independence". P.S. English is not my native language, so excuse me for my mistakes.