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Dando #1
Dando on Delhi Ridge
India, 1857.
Joseph Dando, a resilient young Cockney, finds himself on Delhi Ridge in India fighting a bloody mutiny.
After surviving the outbreak of the mutiny in Meerut, along with the ghastly killings, looting, and rapes, Dando and the rest of the survivors face the brutal hike across the Doab Desert to help protect Delhi…and prevent the fall of the British Empire in India.
Will fortune favour the bold, or will Britain’s last line of defence be slaughtered on Delhi Ridge?
Using brief flashbacks to fill in Dando's background and extend the scope and flexibility of the narrative, author Ronald Bassett paints a fascinating picture of Victorian England as well as India.
‘Fortune Favours the Brave’ was previously published under a different title, ‘Dando on the Delhi Ridge’.
Praise for Ronald Bassett:
‘One of the most impressive things I found about the book was that you got a real feel for the time and place. Scenes set in India or England felt different and I think that's a great achievement.’ – Library Thing.
Ronald Bassett was born in 1924 in Chelsea. During the Munich crisis, at age fourteen, he falsified enlistment papers to become a Rifleman of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles). Following active service, he was exposed and discharged. In his records, his colonel noted, ‘A good soldier. I am sorry to lose him.' Undismayed, he immediately entered the Royal Navy, in which he remained for fourteen years, serving in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Far East and, later, Korea. He died in 1996 in Surrey.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
Joseph Dando, a resilient young Cockney, finds himself on Delhi Ridge in India fighting a bloody mutiny.
After surviving the outbreak of the mutiny in Meerut, along with the ghastly killings, looting, and rapes, Dando and the rest of the survivors face the brutal hike across the Doab Desert to help protect Delhi…and prevent the fall of the British Empire in India.
Will fortune favour the bold, or will Britain’s last line of defence be slaughtered on Delhi Ridge?
Using brief flashbacks to fill in Dando's background and extend the scope and flexibility of the narrative, author Ronald Bassett paints a fascinating picture of Victorian England as well as India.
‘Fortune Favours the Brave’ was previously published under a different title, ‘Dando on the Delhi Ridge’.
Praise for Ronald Bassett:
‘One of the most impressive things I found about the book was that you got a real feel for the time and place. Scenes set in India or England felt different and I think that's a great achievement.’ – Library Thing.
Ronald Bassett was born in 1924 in Chelsea. During the Munich crisis, at age fourteen, he falsified enlistment papers to become a Rifleman of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles). Following active service, he was exposed and discharged. In his records, his colonel noted, ‘A good soldier. I am sorry to lose him.' Undismayed, he immediately entered the Royal Navy, in which he remained for fourteen years, serving in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Far East and, later, Korea. He died in 1996 in Surrey.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
- GenresHistorical FictionIndia
232 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 8, 2026
Fortune Favours the Brave.
Otherwise known as Dando on the Delhi Ridge.
I actually read this as the first part in a 3-book compilation ("THE RIFLEMAN DANDO ADVENTURES three action-packed historical military thrillers"), thinking it may be something interesting, something akin to Bernard Cornwell's Napoleonic-set Sharpe series, or to Paul Fraser Collard's 'Jack Lark' series.
While the history may be - and, for me, was - interesting, unfortunately the plot around the rest of the story was not all that much so. I have to say, I also found the phonetic spelling "See 'ere" rather off-putting, although understandable in that the soldiers were usually drawn from the lower classes rather than the posh higher classes.
I also found the flashbacks to a pre-soldier Dando, and just how he came to be a redcoat, actually more interesting than the 'current events' of the Indian mutiny, for some reason.
Still, I'll read the next two as well at some point (but doubt I'll be going out of my way beyond that)
Otherwise known as Dando on the Delhi Ridge.
I actually read this as the first part in a 3-book compilation ("THE RIFLEMAN DANDO ADVENTURES three action-packed historical military thrillers"), thinking it may be something interesting, something akin to Bernard Cornwell's Napoleonic-set Sharpe series, or to Paul Fraser Collard's 'Jack Lark' series.
While the history may be - and, for me, was - interesting, unfortunately the plot around the rest of the story was not all that much so. I have to say, I also found the phonetic spelling "See 'ere" rather off-putting, although understandable in that the soldiers were usually drawn from the lower classes rather than the posh higher classes.
I also found the flashbacks to a pre-soldier Dando, and just how he came to be a redcoat, actually more interesting than the 'current events' of the Indian mutiny, for some reason.
Still, I'll read the next two as well at some point (but doubt I'll be going out of my way beyond that)
November 4, 2016
Yes it does
I have read some books that were like pulling teeth with a pair of rusty pliers and other that go so quickly that you at the end go please just a little more. This was one that was please just a little more. The Sepoy Mutiny is an interesting event in history that could have been avoided if rational people had seen the problem and addresses it. As this story shows many people were to die for a vague reason. The thing I like about this story was it being told from the enlisted man's point of view. Now some may find the flashbacks to be a bit jarring as they happen without any forewarning, but they get easy to transition to as the story develops. That was my only problem with this story. I have read other stories of the Sepoy Mutiny, but they were more from the officer point of view where this one is more from the enlisted POV. If you like historical fiction about India and The Raj then this one is worth a read.
I have read some books that were like pulling teeth with a pair of rusty pliers and other that go so quickly that you at the end go please just a little more. This was one that was please just a little more. The Sepoy Mutiny is an interesting event in history that could have been avoided if rational people had seen the problem and addresses it. As this story shows many people were to die for a vague reason. The thing I like about this story was it being told from the enlisted man's point of view. Now some may find the flashbacks to be a bit jarring as they happen without any forewarning, but they get easy to transition to as the story develops. That was my only problem with this story. I have read other stories of the Sepoy Mutiny, but they were more from the officer point of view where this one is more from the enlisted POV. If you like historical fiction about India and The Raj then this one is worth a read.
January 9, 2021
An impressive account of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, this early-1970s novel paints an authentic canvas of the general horrors of soldiering and the Mutiny itself as well as the terrible social conditions in England that led to desperate individuals choosing army life. The “hero” fights illness, heat and blinkered leadership to assist in the relief of Delhi against vastly superior forces. No honour and glory of the Empire here, rather the realities of a bloody struggle and life
March 6, 2023
I was introduced to Victorian England and her Crown Jewel, India by the great George MacDonald Fraser and his great rogue, Harry Flashman. While Joe Dando isn't Harry, the young Cockney nevertheless is a likable character, who winds up in India fighting a bloody mutiny. I will continue reading this series and recommend them.
August 13, 2020
very good. Giving an insight to the life of a commoner of the time as well as a historical rendetion of a real event.
Enjoyed very much plan on investigating more of Mr. Basset's works
Enjoyed very much plan on investigating more of Mr. Basset's works
April 16, 2021
a story of the Indian Mutiny in 1857 centered on the men of the 60th especially the story of Joseph Dando. It is a story of his youth and his army career as an enlisted soldier.
February 17, 2017
This one is something of a proto-Sharpe. It has more history within it than the average Sharpe novel but it also possess far less action. While not a bad read, I doubt I'll find the urge to re-read about Dando in say ten years whereas I can imagine revisiting Sharpe.
October 12, 2015
This book is published by Endeavour Press
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews