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Never Among Equals: A WWI Novel

An epic novel set in London during the beginning of World War I explores the world of an Oxford-educated foreigner of Indian descent. With his life in tatters even before the beginning of the Great War pandemonium, Firoze Hazari struggles between the life he wants but cannot have. A story of expectations filled with failures that results in this historical thriller that follows early 20th century events with an immediacy that turns historical settings into lively scenes ―unrolling with a feeling of directness; coming as it does from the character's foreign perspective. With rich attention, given to the complex political situation, love, betrayal, then war and after to rebuild a life fused with haunting elements ―ridden in complicated and undiscoverable secrets.

242 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2021

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Fazle Chowdhury

27 books7 followers

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5 stars
48 (45%)
4 stars
48 (45%)
3 stars
6 (5%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
Profile Image for Debabrata Mishra.
1,774 reviews55 followers
April 29, 2021
This book is set in London during the first world war moving around a Bengali young man Firoze Hazari.
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He finished his education in Oxford University in Economics. After that he was pressurized by his parents to come back Dhaka & join their family business. They also selected a girl for him to marry.
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But Firoze who loved to live his life by his own way decided to stay back in London & started working in a financial farm.
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But destiny showed it's real colour & she lost his job which made him to think join the British army.
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After joining the Army , he took a suicidal mission onto his hand. The mission is so much deadly that going into the mission implies loosing the life.
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To know How he dealt with this mission & did he survived in the mission grab the book & give it a try.
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👉A nicely designed cover which give an intriguing first look to read the book.
👉A well developed plot where the world war 1 and the mission survival of that time is well imagined by the author.
👉 Writing style of the book is crisp. Author tried to relive the 19s century through his writing style & the plot is nicely written which make the book a wonderful read.
👉Minimal characters which keeps the book simple straightforward & a lucid read.
👉The narration is also apt gripping and whenever you will feel disconnected with the plot author gave his magical touch of writing to twist the table again.
👉Fast paced plotline.
Profile Image for Vidhya Thakkar.
1,171 reviews146 followers
August 26, 2021
Fazle pens another wonderful story of dreams, hope, love and family expectations. Starting with Takeshi Matsumoto and Firoze Hazari who are from affluent families completed their education.

Never among equals by @fazlech is a journey of a Bengali man Firoze Hazari who completed his education at Oxford University decides to stay there against his family wishes while Takeshi is called back by the family.

Set in the Era of World War 1, Firoze who joined the British army is on a suicidal mission. Will he survive?.

I liked the evolving plot of the story. As the story proceeds, it becomes more and more interesting with some unexpected twists. Going against his family's wishes to fulfill his dreams Firoze's journey is worth witnessing.

The gripping narrative with the crisp and pleasant writing style of the author keeps the readers invested in.
It's a fast-paced story with a smooth flow of words. It's a bit heavy read that you are going to enjoy if you love reading historical fiction.

From his shattered dreams to his ruined love life, Firoze's journey was getting tougher. As the story proceeds, it gets more interesting and thrilling. The way the author describes the situations gave me goosebumps.

How the life of the working class changed during World war 1, the injustice the immigrants faced and a lot more is amazingly portrayed by the author.

It's an amazing story with well-developed characters and gripping narration. Love reading historical fiction? Do not skip this book.
Profile Image for Aditi Debnath.
435 reviews7 followers
July 14, 2021
Set in London, in the time of world war, 'Never Among Equals' delineates the story of a Bengali man Firoze Hazari. Finishing his educational life at Oxford University in Economics, his parents wish is that their son should come back to Dhaka and join them. They hopefully want Firoze to join their family business and marry a girl of their choice. But, Firoze being smart and confident about his life, puts down his parents wishes starts working in London and later joins the British Army. The task in army was indeed difficult, and he had life risks. Did he fight bravely and survived?

This is indeed an astonishing historical fiction or to be more precise an unputdownable thriller. This book is a blend of courage, dreams and hope. The style of portraying the entire story was simply spectacular. The narration and language was lucid and gripping. I definitely recommend it to historical fiction lovers.
1,381 reviews33 followers
October 29, 2021
Book:- Never Among Equals
Author:- Fazle Chowdhury
Format:- Kindle
Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I usually don't have a habit of reading historical books, but this book is one of the best historical books I have ever read.

The protagonist here is a boy named Firoz from Bengal but the guy is currently residing in London. He is pursuing his higher education from the the Oxford University in economics.

The author had set the plot in the era of World War 1 where Indian & Bangladesh are completely different country. Here is the surprising element which brings a twist to the storyline.

Firoze though belonging to India joins in the British army . Why? What happens next? Know it all yourselves by just diving deep into the storyline. The after-scenes from here are just beautifully described. You will get to read the impact World War 1 had on the locals.


Plot, characterization & flow of the story are all marvellous depicting the unending & interesting end.

Thank You.
Happy Reading 📚
Author 26 books115 followers
June 8, 2021
Fantastic Novel

My first reading from this author. For me extremely reminiscent of The English Patient. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Terry Overton.
Author 47 books252 followers
June 2, 2021

Chowdhury gives us very interesting and mostly likable characters early on in the story and you are then connected and can't put it down. This era of British history is deep with backstory and intriguing plot development. This book begins as a charming introduction of young men at their early prime, and especially the somewhat out of place character Firoze who seeks to find his place and become established after many challenges and hardships. Without any spoilers, the intertwining of the relationships across times, roller coaster emotions, events, and settings, adds to the development of the story. The twists of the plot carry through to the very last page. If you like books that have an element of history of such important events as WWI and the crash of the stock market, you must read this one!
318 reviews6 followers
July 1, 2021
Firoze who had studied from Oxford University and had decided to stay back and not return to his hometown in India had been enjoying his life be it at a gambling establishment, a night club, Jazz or a dance saw a beginning of something at Wilneck’s office that would make himself needed. A crucial step for his own success, one step closer to a home, a family of his own, he would have someday.

This was the beginning of what would become Firoze’s long association with a new breed of London’s classes, culminating in the invitation of coffee, tea, and wine houses to have him make an acquaintance with people of repute but this 20th-century London society hadn’t yet succeeded in shaking off the perception of Indian-looking gentleman, which Firoze embodied. They associated him with the likes of lascars, scholars, and workers on ships and in ports. In a tale of mistaken identity, an innocent Firoze was pursued as a helper and waiter by some in the crowd, preventing him from conversing with a few.

Firoze was soon feeling downcast and discouraged but He gradually brought in smaller dealers to help these foreign businesses make their mark in London, gradually becoming one of the most well-known financial brokers in the city.

With rumors of possibilities of war looming, there was no way of protecting any of these investments tied to the London market. The whole picture was shaky and fed into the turbulence of Firoze’s career prospects. Could his powers of persuasion defend him if a war did happen? How would he keep his clients' confidence if everything he had worked to accomplish in the course of the better part of the whole year were to be eroded? His jubilation was marked by fears of having to lose it all. He soon feared and believed his success may be short-lived. 

This is a story of Firoze and his journey full of struggles during the beginning of World War I in the city of London. Book is quite long so you definitely need to be patient but the journey itself is very interesting.
Profile Image for Sakshi Priya.
82 reviews
August 13, 2021
I have never been one for Historical Fictions. I find them to be a drag, mostly because of my lack of knowledge to be able to understand the context of the book. But, this book changed that for me.

Set during the World War I, "Never Among Equals" by Fazle Chowdhury is the story of an Indian Immigrant to Britain, Firoze, who undergoes a huge variety of injustice at the hands of his native superiors, and others as well. Being from a wealthy family in Bengal, Firoze starts off well - he gets his education from Oxford and is able to get himself recruited in a very reputable financial firm. He is a smart guy who uses his mental prowess to establish a strong reputation for himself in the investment sector of Britain. But soon enough, racial discrimination makes it's way into his life. He is betrayed by his peers and the woman he loves. A chain of events then take place, such that he finds himself directly involved in the war. Here, he is captured by the enemy and tortured mercilessly for a while before he is able to walk free. He then tries to get his life back on track, when he experiences another set of betrayals from his friends and family. He becomes a broken man, suffering from physical and mental trauma, but he keeps pushing to live his life. In the end, he uncovers a truth that leaves the readers in a state of complete shock and utter disbelief.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. It has the most amazing plot development, with equally sound language structure. The author has displayed his deep knowledge about this time period and the subtle forms of injustice met out to immigrants in such a sophisticated manner that I was in absolute awe. Usually when we read about the World Wars, we read about the military events and politics, but reading this book gives you a peek into the lives of the working class during this time, and the little battles they fought throughout their lives. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough, so be sure to check it out!
Profile Image for Anindita Banerjee.
121 reviews4 followers
July 9, 2021
Both the World wars wreck an havoc on the lives of common men only because of the vested interests of certain handful of privileged men. Men mostly got dragged and involved in a war that destroyed everything that owned important and dear to. All the men became equal in the inevitable scenario and outcome of the war if they were not from those privileged classes who kept the war going and did enough massacre to snatch the remaining spirit the battle weary soldiers. Their trajectories of faith led them to immense destruction and death for the rest of their wars and they never forgot the horrors of the forlorn tragedies of the war that they faced and endured. This book has the story of an educated man named Firoze Hazari who being a common man is taught among the equals that is he struggles to live a successful well maintained life only to end up contributing as an army man in the cause of the war. This trajectory and destiny too decides this for him and he embraces this side of live in the hopes and strong believe as well as faith that at the end he will receive/win whatever he has rightfully aspired for himself in the market which he never got and kept on struggling for even before the WW1 took place. Never among equals, as the title goes is a Bildungsroman, according to me which champions a man singular aim and ambition to win a war and stay alive only to live forever in heights of success. This book through the metaphor of this man also talks about men like him who are not equal as they are different in the sense that though they contribute in a war, they want to remain alive at the end. This book is an absolute masterpiece with a deft plot and narration, it is a must read for all as it changes perspectives through which we view the 20tg century onslaught with it's historical viewpoint.
113 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2021
" Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle" ~ Napoleon hill

🌸Life is not what we plan but what happens with us every day is life. Its true that nothing is more fictional than life. We all make our own sweet plans but ultimately we have to mould ourselves according to different situations. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of a person named Firoze Hazari and it's fascinating as a reader to witness such wide range of incidents in his life.

🌸 Story is based on the backdrop of World War I therefore you get to know about various historical events during that time. Firoze Hazari belonged to a business family and active participants in education and Bengal politics. He went for his higher studies in London and graduated in economics. He wanted to work over there but was pressurised by his family to comeback and join family business. Firoze wasn't ready to settle down by getting married and joining the business therefore he decided to stay back in London.

🌸How his life turns around 360° in London is the gripping part. Losing his job and joining the army and then facing imprisonment is exciting to read. Mysteries get unfold one after the another as you move ahead however some parts of the book are exaggerated. If you love reading history fiction then this one is for you.

🌸I liked the character graph of the protagonist and the mission that he gets involved was my favourite part of the book. I just wish the length could have been edited. Overall a good book with something for everyone.
Profile Image for Tanisha Rahman.
99 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2021
As the shadow of the forthcoming World War I looms large over a major part pf Europe, Firoze Hazari, the protagonist of the novel lives through the topsy-turvy journey called life.

Firoze is of an Indian descent, belonging originally to Jahangirnagar who harboured a profound inclinement towards cricket, but was sent to London for higher studies. On the other hand, there is his dear friend Takeshi, whose father wanted to hand down his belief in the Japanese principle of hand work - "Soudan". Therefore there is a prominent infusion of Indian, English and Japanese culture and tradition throughout the narrative.

It exhibits the English culture from a foreigner's perspective. The fact that although people like Firoze and Takeshi embrace the English way of life as their own, yet remain an outsider is best explained through the lines - “Let me be among you, let me be an equal. I may not be like you all in color and mind, but I have what it takes to be that one of a kind."

Like many young men and women, Firoze goes through the struggle of attaining financial stability and keeping his marriage life afloat. His uncertainty about his future takes a full turn when Takeshi reappears in his life. The rift between him and his father adds to his loneliness but it pushes him forward to stand up for himself and be self-sufficient.

The narration is smooth, the plot not too complex.
It is a historical treatment of politics and war, love and betrayal. This is a good one time read.
Profile Image for Michael Beyer.
Author 28 books3 followers
June 23, 2021
Starting with what this novel does well, it is incredibly detailed with facts about the time period, the various settings, and even the descriptions of the characters, their ancestors, and all sorts of random things and events. The author's knowledge of the era is impressively encyclopedic. Unfortunately this positive quality quickly becomes a negative as the story itself sputters to a start. The introduction is bogged down by excessive description that elaborates for paragraphs on unimportant side details. Every character introduced seems to come with a complete physical description and a family history that includes parents and grandparents. I spent half of the first chapter thinking Takeshi was the main character, whereas the bulk of the book is about Firoze. At one point in Chapter 3, Firoze spots an attractive lady a few tables away that he wants to meet. Before he can even make a move toward thinking about her, a 1910 John Trumbull painting on the wall is described and the women's suffrage movement in Helsinki, Finland has to be discussed by the narrator, not characters in the story. Scenes and dialogue are drowned in details that make the story as hard to follow as it is to find the point I am making in this review. The writer has a great background for historical fiction, but the plot and character development are suffocated by too many details of little importance to plot or character.

Profile Image for Vikas Ghuge.
55 reviews
July 31, 2021
This is story of a boy name Firoze who has come from small village of Bengal, to London to make a life for himself and his family, He joined a college and met some people same like him who came from ditferent origin to London, he met a Japanese guy name Takeshi who is here far from his home here to fulfill his and family dream and all he want from college studies was only passion to earn money and earn name for himself and to become a barrister which was dream of his life, but life take turns he did fairly well for himself but a fraud Turn his dream and he loss his job,

Later a military man tested his caliber and made him informer in world war I with German which make him reach jail for 3 year and 3 year later
when he came he have seen enough in his life. His love life Was ruined as he fall for gold digger, his marriage life was disturbed because his earlier life torture made him unfit for marriage as life is become hell and she left hm. The end of the story was that he been through alot and never been accepted in any form and any place which put
his life a meaningless venture but his journey was worth reading. In the end he solve the puzzle of fraud he went through to know what Was the reasoand who was behind it grab your copy now.

Let me tell you the Book is little lengthy so you definitely need to be patient but its enjoyable and engaging, recommended to everyone
110 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2021
I am a fan of historical fiction or books that are based on real events.
I picked this book on a fact that it has a plot that revolves around World war 1.
I really wanted to read something like this since long.

when I started reading this book, I came across a protagonist who is basically an Indian especially a Bengali who has a dream to work in London as he has finished his education from the same country. Even though after the pressure of his family members to return, he decides to stick to his decision but the events do not favour his decisions which forces him to adopt a profession or a job that is too risky.
As he meet new people everyday is challenging to the extent that a small mistake can cost is life.

This is a fast paced story.
The characters are sketched in too impressive manner.
I liked the way he took stand in favour of his choices rather than going with the flow.
Also my expectations were met as the book has the brief description about the historical events.
For a reader who is not into historical facts for them the book might seem to offer too much but for me it was perfect. The cover of this book is intriguing and touches the emotions as it has military background.
The plot is unexpected and the story is a journey of adventure and I can definitely name it as a thriller that you should not miss.
Overall it is a very good book with proper details.
Recommended.
Profile Image for Shweta Sinha.
704 reviews8 followers
October 31, 2021
Interesting......

The book "NEVER AMONG EQUALS" by author FAZLE CHOWDHURY is a historical fiction.The book goes after the major life choices of a young man in London around the time of First World War.

The story story begins in 1913. The protagonist Firoze Hazari, a young bengali guy had just completed his graduation from Oxford University in economics. Firoze's family want him to return to his homeland Bengal and join his family business. They also want Firoze to get marry and settle down. But Firoze wanted to live his life on his terms. He decided to stay back in London and focus on his career. Soon, he gets a job offer and Firoze accepted the offer happily. But Nothing comes Easy in Life. Destiny had some other plans for him. He lost his job and decided to join British Army. In 1914, Firoze was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the British Army. After a couple of years go by, his senior reasonably made a trap against Firoze and accused him of spying. However, he managed to overcome this difficult situation without being harmed much and accepted a dangerous mission of infiltrating the Weimar Lines.

To know
✨ What happens
with Firoze during this
dangerous mission?

✨ Will Firoze be able to
survive?
Do Read The Book 📖
The writing style is smooth and flowy and I went with the flow. The character of Firoze is effortlessly potrayed by author. The plot is nicely set. The story felt real.

I enjoyed reading it.
Recommended 👍
Profile Image for Sakshi Bassi.
164 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2021
The book is set in the times of World War 1 and revolves around a Bengali young man Firoze Hazari. The author has done full justice to the plot and has successfully setup 19th century's vibes.

Firoze Hazari is a Bengali young man who is studying economics at Oxford University, London. He lands a job after graduation and declines his family's requests to join them in their family business at Dhaka. They even finalised a girl for Firoze. But he decides to stay in London and pursue his dreams. But after some turns of fateful events, he ended up joining the British Army. Things completely changed from there onwards. Will he be able to make a difference? Where will his destiny take him? Will he be able to survive or end up becoming another victim of World War I ? Read the book to know!

This book is so good you guys. If you want to experience World War I events, how lives of people changed, this is an absolutely wonderful pick for historical fiction lovers. There are elements of fear, dreams, responsibilities, friendship, love, sacrifices and much more. Overall, a great read with compelling narration, lucid language, minimum characters to put the focus on main plot and gripping storyline. Also, the title is so apt and the cover is amazingly designed to give attractive and intriguing feels.
350 reviews3 followers
September 19, 2021
Amazing Book

" The pain he felt now was no different from the pain he had felt before, yet it's weight had subsided now"- An Excerpt from the book.

Picking up this book, I did had alot of expectations as the setting of this book is in a different era, early 20th century around the world war 1. This truly is a amazing read.

The story of an India Firoze Hazari, goes to study in London, Oxford to be more specific and continues to stick on in London even though his parents would like him back in Dhaka and get married to a woman of their choice. However, Firoze has decided that he will make a different life for himself other than work in his family business.

Along the way, there are two major life changing events for him, he joins the British army, he meets Sophia.

What Happens after this? Do read this very creative novel and even better storyline to understand this book.

The storyline in Particular was the highlight of the novel for me, as I haven't come across one with this storyline before and after he author did a great job in keeping the book fast paced, At no point of the book did I feel tedious. The author has done a lot of descriptions in terms of characters or settings or even the plot but he has kept it very imaginative.

The language is good, simple and easy for everyone to read with no fuss.

Amazing book, A must read for all.
170 reviews
October 7, 2021
This book reminds me of my school's literature, a rather extended version though. A perfect plot that stems from the times of World War 1.
Just like many other historical fictions, this story apart from the main storyline relies on the themes of polity and business' most of all. Every other event occurring in the story is very well explained including the plot each time and hence, it was easier for me to get familiar with the plot. Also, I would like to mention the development of characters was also well, again, with a thorough description of everything. However, at some points, I really struggled to get through the text whenever the author's descriptive sense went too substantial. But the fact that everything seemed so factual and well probed is worthy of appreciation.
Now, what the story was about? It revolved around the life of an Indian man trying to settle abroad during those old times. Not just settling but creating impact in history, his journey is efficiently written. The flow of the story goes well with the author explaining every place the protagonist went, every person he met, every plan he made, providing enough information about it all and everything kept me captivated.
I won't say the story was predictable or anything, the flow of the story was just in place that one barely realises to think about the end or what just went past.
37 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2021
This book is so acceptable you all. On the off chance that you need to encounter World War I occasions, how lives of individuals changed, this is a totally magnificent pick for authentic fiction sweethearts. However poor Firoze's incident, is the peruser's best of luck. An Indian public from Bengal attempting to make it all alone in London's monetary business sectors, Firoze's afflictions are intriguing. Furthermore, the composing style of both the discourse and portrayal feel fitting and credible for the period depicted. By the by, the content would profit with a decent duplicate proofreader. A portion of the chronicled realities are likewise tricky, like references to directed enemy of tank rockets and Agent Orange, neither of which were designed until a very long time after the occasions portrayed. Moreover, there are a few cases that uncover the author's non-British foundation. The general plot is all around created and fascinating too. It is not difficult to lose all sense of direction in this book and read for quite a long time! On the off chance that you are a chronicled fiction fan, look at Never Among Equals for a novel viewpoint, staggering composition, and complex person advancement.
Profile Image for Harini Bharati..
197 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2021
"Let me be among you, let me be an equal. I plea to you to avoid for this one thing I ask, the generation after mine, for you, should not live their lives in mask.” (Quoted from the text).

I believe these lines justify the title Never among equals. The cover page is the first element I got impressed. The picture and tittle is evident and it itself says what the story is about . After completing the story just turn the cover page you will feel a perfect ending. The journey of twelve chapters gives you series of emotions. The protagonist Firoze Hazari is a young bengali man who lives on his own decisions. A lot of happenings during the time of world war one is mentioned. At first Hazari leads a normal life but after that he decides to go for British army. In the middle of it he gets married and a subtle love can be seen in many places. What does army life has? Does he achieves his dream? What happens to Sophie. To get answers for all these questions give a read to this historical thriller of all times.

Well intertwined story line. There is no run for dictionary you can drift through the lines easily. Vocabulary is rich according to the theme and way of narration is simple. A very good book for beginners.
Profile Image for San.
414 reviews12 followers
September 29, 2021
Do you like to read a book that develops in the military background? Well, hold your seat tight, this book is wrapped in thrilling adventures and dangerous missions. Firoze Hazari is a young Bengali man who explored different possibilities in London. He finished his education at Oxford University in Economics, and with his aspiring dreams, he was moving forth with his dreams. But in this middle, his family started pressurizing him to come back home and to get married. Well, he had other plans; he continued working for a financial farm. But later on, he lost his job and decided to join British Army. In his position, he decided to undertake the entire life-threatening mission. With his new job roles, he was embracing death every other day. What happened to him later on? How long did he survive in this death game?

Well, this story is packed with thrilling events. The cover of this book is designed artistically. The writing style was simple and lucid. I don’t particularly enjoy military books, but this one kept me on the hook. The plot was well developed, and with minimal characters, the read was straightforward and crisp. I felt that the book bit too lengthy, so be patient. Firoze’s journey was worth reading.
156 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2021
Never Among Equals: A WWI Novel
author- Fazle Chaudhary

We cannot plan life, but we make it up as we go along. Nothing is indeed more fictional than life. All make plans, but ultimately we have to mold ourselves according to different situations. The book is a rollercoaster ride through the life of Firoze Hazari, and reading about such a wide variety of experiences in his life is fascinating.

The story is set during World War I; therefore, numerous historical events are discussed. Firoze Hazari was from a wealthy family and was involved in both education and politics. He studied at the University of London and graduated in economics. His dream was to work abroad, but his family urged him to stay and join the business. He wasn't ready to settle down by getting married. Therefore, he stayed back in London.

The part that gripped me was how his life turned around 360° in London. Joining the military after losing his job and then facing prison is intriguing. Each chapter reveals a new mystery; however, some scenes are inflated. If you love historical fiction, this is for you.

The character graph of the protagonist was interesting, as was the mission he gets involved in that.

ratings- 4/5
Profile Image for Simran.
280 reviews6 followers
May 3, 2021
Being an ardent fan of books revolving around Historical elements, this book caught my attention right from the title. World war I has been quite a significant moment in the history and this book is set in that era.
The book revolves around Firoze Hazari who wanted to live his life in his own way. He completed his education in London after which his parents asked him to come back to Dhaka but he had something else in his mind. He stayed back and worked there. But was everything going good?
The terror of world war began which was changing everyone's life. Circumstances led Firoze to join British forces after which the readers which definitely know it feels being an Indian and serving another country in such a time when scenerio was changing day by day.
The way the author described the story felt like I was there near the protagonist like a silent witness which made the book really interesting for me. Every element in the book, from love to war, is great to read and feel. The emotions carried by the book is deep which you can understand after reading the book.
Loved the book and looking forward for more by the author.
Profile Image for Booklover  N.
55 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2021
Set in London during the beginning of World War I, this novel tells the story of an Oxford-educated foreigner of Indian descent.
With his life in tatters even before the beginning of the Great War pandemonium, Firoze Hazari struggles between the life he wants but cannot have.
With politics, war, love and betrayal - it was deep, emotional and intriguing.

Firoze is a character that resembles most of the humans. He is a Bengali who settles in London after studying. His life whether love or professional, is tearing apart and he is barely hanging on. The way his life takes turn and land him in unbelievable place was exciting but also terrifying. He was such a courageous and determined man.
Along with Firoze, I learned so much and I guess everyone can.

It was a historical book and based around war, so, yes, it was sad and heartbreaking too.
Narration of the author is gripping and admirable. I really liked the writing style and how it made plot more interesting.
Overall, I liked the book though there was just too much detail to things that sometimes, it overshadowed the main plot.
108 reviews
July 8, 2021
The novel is set during World War I and offers readers with a wealth of information on the issues of the time. The protagonist of this narrative is Firoze Hazari.
Never Among Equals is a jumble of bravery, pursuing one's heart, realising one's goals, life's unforeseen twists and turns, finding joy in the tiny stuff, and hoping for a happier future. Firoze is an intelligent and self-assured Bengali youngster from India. He has just been studying economics at Oxford University and has been residing in London. Rather than returning back to his home and assisting his parents understand the money, he remains there and occupies an employment after college. This ebook is fantastic, you guys. It is an excellent choice for alternate history fans who wish to witness World War I incidents and how people's lives altered. Fear, ambitions, obligations, companionship, passion, compromises, and so much more are all present. Altogether, a fantastic book with an engrossing narrative, simple language, and a small storyline to concentrate on the primary plotline and suspense. This was a fantastic book. This is a fascinating page-turner.
182 reviews1 follower
July 20, 2021
Never Among Equals: A WWI Novel
by Fazle Chowdhury

The book is ready withinside the instances of World War 1 and affords the readers a massive understanding at the happenings of that time. Firoze Hazari is the principle enchantment of this story.
Men normally were given dragged and worried in a battle that destroyed the whole lot that owned crucial and expensive to. Every individual added appears to include a entire bodily description and a own circle of relatives records that consists of mother and father and grandparents.
This book is so top you guys. If you need to revel in World War I events, how lives of humans changed, that is an in reality outstanding choose for historic fiction lovers. The widespread plot is all round created and charming too.
This book has general range twelve chapters and these kinds of chapters, performs the maximum crucial role. The narration is so easy and easy.
This book is very well written, but the idea behind this story is not new, which is good.
Great job Fazle Chowdhury , and wishing this book heaps of success!
Highly recommended ,
Happy reading😌✌️
Profile Image for Gourav Ghosh.
358 reviews3 followers
July 22, 2021
It is a heart touching novel written by Fazle Chowdhury . There are elements of fear, dreams, authorities friendship, love, sacrifices and much more. It is an long story novel set in London during the beginning of World War I range over the world of an Oxford-educated foreigner of Indian coming down . With his life in rags even before the beginning of the Great War bedlam Firoze Hazari struggles between the life he wants but cannot have.

A story of expectations filled with lack of success that results in this historical thriller that follows early 20th century events with an rapidness that turns historical settings into lively scenes ― outstretching
with a feeling of directness; coming as it does from the character's foreign outlook. With rich attention, given to the compound political situation, love, betrayal, then war and after to reconstruct life fused with haunting elements ―ridden in intricate and undiscoverable secrets.

To khow more about it go through the book. Language is quite easy to read it. Writing was also awesome . It is a very interesting book . I suggest everyone to read it . I really loved this book very much.....
Profile Image for Bindhu Chandrika.
278 reviews7 followers
October 30, 2021
NEVER AMONG EQUALS : A WW1 NOVEL
AUTHOR : FAZLE CHOWDHURY
It is a historical story that covers the events of the early 20th century. Feroz Hazari, a foreigner of Indian descent, is fighting for the life of a man who lost his life and has no chance of getting it back. Hazari was a member of a business family. He went to London for higher educated and graduated with a degree in economics. He loved working in London. But the family is forced to come back and look after the business. But he was not interested in business. So he decides to stay in London.So get the job done. But Ajoli lost. Hazari later joined the British Army. There he meets Sofia. He served in the Army for many years. But he was charged with espionage. The ensuing events were full of curiosity.

The presentation of Hazare's life was very exciting. The characters and dialogue are all beautiful. It felt like watching a historical movie. Accurate description of World War I.The part that deals with the changes in life according to the changes that take place during that period is significant. We'll written and good cover design. Simple language for easy way to read. I recommend you guys.
Profile Image for Vishal Kumar.
34 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2021
"Let me be among you. Let me be equal. I may not be like you all in colour and mind but I've what it takes to be that one of a kind"
I re-read this line 3-5 times. It's deep and touching.
It's what Firoze and Takeshi feel when they embrace English culture but couldn't help but feel like an outsider.
📚
Set in the midst of World War 1, the story revolves around Firoze from Jahangirnagar, who studies in London.

His parents want him to take on their family business and marry a girl of their choice but Firoze wants to live his line in his terms so he takes job in London but struggles financially. He also struggles with his marriage.
And when Takeshi comes back in his life, it's all too much.
So he ends up joining British army and take a suicidal mission in his hands.
📚📚
It's a long but certainly an interesting one. Characterization is wonderful. Every event has been beautifully written. Author's writing style is comprehensible. I'll recommend it to those who wanna read something unique and interesting.
Profile Image for Siddhi Palande.
792 reviews46 followers
July 6, 2021
The book opens up introducing two characters - Firoze and Takeshi. They have been lads from affluent families and have completed their education. Takeshi has been called back to his country and is packing up to leave. Firoze, on the other hand, loves London very much and decides to go against the wishes of his family and stay back. His decision to stay back and endure the financially challenging situations, join British army and then face repercussions is nothing short of a classic movie.

This book follows a the old school narrative by giving readers sumptuous descriptions and less of dialogues. The author intricately details Firoze's lifestyle and the consequences. One can look at it as a coming-of-age novel. What doesn't wilt is the protagonist's determination. Firoze succeeds then fails, goes through rigorous times and then scales the success ladder yet again.

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