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James Ogilvie #4
Honour and Empire
The North-West Frontier, 1897. A quiet life is a mixed blessing for the British Army, for in slackness lie the seeds of disaster. Captain James Ogilvie of the 114th Queen's Own Royal Strathspeys sees it in his own Highlanders, but it is far worse in the 99th Rawalpindi battalion to whom he is currently seconded. Worse, when the volatile chieftain Jarar Mahommed seizes the British Resident and his family hostage at Kunarja, Ogilvie's battalion are ordered to march through the Khyber Pass to their relief -- and fall neatly into the Ghilzai chieftain's trap as the gates of Kunarja close behind them.Now, Ogilvie and his sepoy company must return through the Khyber carrying Jarar Mahommed's terms to HQ in a perilous mission when a regiment's survival depends on his success, but even more so when he is responsible for the safe conduct of the British Resident, his daughter and ailing wife in mid-winter through a hostile pass where countless British lives have already been laid down for the Raj...
324 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Philip McCutchan
187 books36 followersaka Robert Conington Galway, Duncan MacNeil
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 17, 2015
A good story
I have to confess right off that I like stories about the British Army in India. Think it has to do with Rudyard Kipling's stories of India that I read as a kid. When I came across this story, I thought maybe this would he worth a look. Well I was right it had the elements of a good adventure. First a likeable protagonist in James Ogilvie, a semi-pompous regimental colonel, a damsel in distress, and let us not forget the fierce tribal warriors of the Frontier. The main plot of the story is a rescue mission to save a British consul and his family. As often happens in stories like this thing don't go as planned. There are a couple of subplots in the story one dealing with murder and the other with a man's sexual preferences. Now one thing that this story does it is touch on the issue of homosexuality in late 19th Century Great Britain when you could get jailed for your sexual partners and how it was looked on in society and the military. It doesn't take a side on the issue it just shows how it was viewed. So you have the British Raj, a brief look at the societal mores of the time and the good name of the service in a fast paced story that is a slice of the British Empire.
I have to confess right off that I like stories about the British Army in India. Think it has to do with Rudyard Kipling's stories of India that I read as a kid. When I came across this story, I thought maybe this would he worth a look. Well I was right it had the elements of a good adventure. First a likeable protagonist in James Ogilvie, a semi-pompous regimental colonel, a damsel in distress, and let us not forget the fierce tribal warriors of the Frontier. The main plot of the story is a rescue mission to save a British consul and his family. As often happens in stories like this thing don't go as planned. There are a couple of subplots in the story one dealing with murder and the other with a man's sexual preferences. Now one thing that this story does it is touch on the issue of homosexuality in late 19th Century Great Britain when you could get jailed for your sexual partners and how it was looked on in society and the military. It doesn't take a side on the issue it just shows how it was viewed. So you have the British Raj, a brief look at the societal mores of the time and the good name of the service in a fast paced story that is a slice of the British Empire.
May 1, 2020
This is episode four in the James Ogilvie series. In this episode, the story confronts the subject of homosexuality in the British army and the stigma attached to it. Throughout the whole book, it is the underlying story with a sad ending.
It starts of with Ogilvie getting away from crawling over dead bodies to take up teaching native recruits. Even then he still ends up at the Khyber Pass with snipers and skirmishers, outnumbered and fighting his way out. A good story with not as much blood and gore as usual.
It starts of with Ogilvie getting away from crawling over dead bodies to take up teaching native recruits. Even then he still ends up at the Khyber Pass with snipers and skirmishers, outnumbered and fighting his way out. A good story with not as much blood and gore as usual.
April 30, 2019
Exceptionally Well Written.......
The series continues on with yet another exciting and adventurous story involving the dreaded Kyber Pass, the British Army and the unwritten promise of enemy snipers. I will not spoil the read for you. The action is extremely tense, and..... well read it for your self as you will NOT be disappointed !
The series continues on with yet another exciting and adventurous story involving the dreaded Kyber Pass, the British Army and the unwritten promise of enemy snipers. I will not spoil the read for you. The action is extremely tense, and..... well read it for your self as you will NOT be disappointed !
August 18, 2018
McCutchan writes very good historical novels and this series is exciting, action filled & an excellent read. Well researched cultural & geographical aspects are included to make this a very good read!
December 4, 2011
I never finished this book. It was written in the 70s, and the language and social mores would have seemed out of date even then (especially then!). It was just too hard to stomach the flummery prose and stultifying plot.
About the only thing in McCutchan's favour was that he tackled a tricky subject, namely homosexuality, but then the part I gave up in disgust was when the "hero" had to protect a pretty young lady from a fellow officer, who earlier on had been caught at it with one of the younger sepoys! McCutchan's point? Not sure, maybe if I'd finished the book I'd have found out that the gay guy was really straight and a hero to boot. Or maybe not. Maybe the author thinks gay men are just naturally depraved?
About the only thing in McCutchan's favour was that he tackled a tricky subject, namely homosexuality, but then the part I gave up in disgust was when the "hero" had to protect a pretty young lady from a fellow officer, who earlier on had been caught at it with one of the younger sepoys! McCutchan's point? Not sure, maybe if I'd finished the book I'd have found out that the gay guy was really straight and a hero to boot. Or maybe not. Maybe the author thinks gay men are just naturally depraved?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews