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The Way of an Eagle
This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
About the author
Jane West
118 books2 followersBorn In Greywell, England in 1959, Jane West spent her childhood singing, dancing and acting, both on stage and screen.
Her experience with rejection is reflected in this compelling story of a pine tree's dream to become what he thought he was born to be...a Christmas tree. As a child, Jane was always writing stories, songs and poems, but her dream was to one day become a movie star.
Through unforeseen circumstances, in 1986, Jane and her six-year old daughter Katie, flew from England to California. As a single mother, she had to alternative but to give up her dream.
The struggles and fears that she faced over the years that followed turned out, better than she could have dreamed. Now living with her devoted husband Jay, and their two daughters, Katie and Julia, she is doing what comes naturally in her life-being a Mummy...and writing!
Her experience with rejection is reflected in this compelling story of a pine tree's dream to become what he thought he was born to be...a Christmas tree. As a child, Jane was always writing stories, songs and poems, but her dream was to one day become a movie star.
Through unforeseen circumstances, in 1986, Jane and her six-year old daughter Katie, flew from England to California. As a single mother, she had to alternative but to give up her dream.
The struggles and fears that she faced over the years that followed turned out, better than she could have dreamed. Now living with her devoted husband Jay, and their two daughters, Katie and Julia, she is doing what comes naturally in her life-being a Mummy...and writing!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 19, 2015
This was wonderful. I think I found a new favorite author to collect. :)
Who would have thought it possible to root for a hero described as small, yellow, wrinkly like a monkey, and with pale, fluttering eyelashes? Over the top or what? But somehow, Ethel M. Dell makes you care and see the inner person. It was refreshing.
There are conflicting descriptions of this author's works, some call them Christian, along the lines of Grace Livingstone Hill. Others say her books are early bodice rippers. Both descriptions are rather misleading.
First off, this is a clean read. Totally clean. Kisses only. In no way shape or form could this ever be described as remotely erotic.
As for her writing being Christian fiction, well, its suitable reading for Christians. The characters were seen praying once or twice, but there is no sermonizing or epiphanies. The characters are English, and as such, we assume, Christian. Some have faith, some lack it. Just like real life.
THE STORY:
The Seige. (Its not clear whether this is Lucknow or some other residency, going by the few people I think we can cross off Lucknow). During the seige, people are starving waiting for relief to come. Muriel's father gathers his soldiers to him and asks who would be willing to save his daughter from a fate worse than death should the natives break through and it come to that.
One man steps forward. A "fool" in many eyes, but the only one who really has what it takes. He agrees to protect Muriel with his life til death do them part.
Well, Muriel isn't quite so enthusiastic...
An escape. England. Misunderstandings and partings. Trauma. Return to India. True love prevails.
I wont say any more regarding plot for fear of spoilers.
One thing I will say, though many will find me hopelessly old fashioned, I really appreciated the plotline regarding the sanctity of marriage and what loyalty means. Its a message almost entirely unheard in modern novels (and in many old ones as well). Love it.
Have a look at my status updates for the lines I loved best and you'll get a good feel for this book.
5 Stars easy.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: One fight to the death
PROFANITY: Very Mild, a couple of D's
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: None
Who would have thought it possible to root for a hero described as small, yellow, wrinkly like a monkey, and with pale, fluttering eyelashes? Over the top or what? But somehow, Ethel M. Dell makes you care and see the inner person. It was refreshing.
There are conflicting descriptions of this author's works, some call them Christian, along the lines of Grace Livingstone Hill. Others say her books are early bodice rippers. Both descriptions are rather misleading.
First off, this is a clean read. Totally clean. Kisses only. In no way shape or form could this ever be described as remotely erotic.
As for her writing being Christian fiction, well, its suitable reading for Christians. The characters were seen praying once or twice, but there is no sermonizing or epiphanies. The characters are English, and as such, we assume, Christian. Some have faith, some lack it. Just like real life.
THE STORY:
The Seige. (Its not clear whether this is Lucknow or some other residency, going by the few people I think we can cross off Lucknow). During the seige, people are starving waiting for relief to come. Muriel's father gathers his soldiers to him and asks who would be willing to save his daughter from a fate worse than death should the natives break through and it come to that.
One man steps forward. A "fool" in many eyes, but the only one who really has what it takes. He agrees to protect Muriel with his life til death do them part.
Well, Muriel isn't quite so enthusiastic...
An escape. England. Misunderstandings and partings. Trauma. Return to India. True love prevails.
I wont say any more regarding plot for fear of spoilers.
One thing I will say, though many will find me hopelessly old fashioned, I really appreciated the plotline regarding the sanctity of marriage and what loyalty means. Its a message almost entirely unheard in modern novels (and in many old ones as well). Love it.
Have a look at my status updates for the lines I loved best and you'll get a good feel for this book.
5 Stars easy.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: One fight to the death
PROFANITY: Very Mild, a couple of D's
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: None
July 21, 2015
Oh, this was was marvelous, fantabulous, beautiful and absolutely one of the best books I've read this year!
Nick, our hero, is described as being hideous and it's no wonder the heroine, Meryl is terrified of him, allowing her imagination run away with her. What will it take for her to see his true self underneath his ugly physique?
We start off the story during a siege in India, Meryl is with her father and his regiment and they have found that without reinforcements they can only hold out a few days more...
So, a daring escape is planned for Meryl, and Nick is the only one brave and intelligent enough to accomplish it.
During the escape we get to know them both well, and to see what they're worth, but Meryl still has her blinders on and can't see Nick's worth. He's priceless. Nick knows his own mind well, and is sure that one day she'll come to be of one accord with him. But Meryl is too hurt and lonely to make up her mind about Nick's worth and when someone who looks the part of a hero turns up, it will take something dramatic for her to see that it's not looks that matter..
Absolutely loved this! The hero can laugh at himself and is quite willing to wait forever for Meryl if he gets her in the end and if not, then he'll only relinquish her to someone who truly loves her and can make her happy. Otherwise, there's no knowing what ends he'll go to to save her from herself...
I was on tenterhooks.
One other thing I liked about this book was that marriage was viewed as sacred even when it wasn't perfect and most of the characters had high standards of right and wrong.
Dislikes: None whatsoever!
PG We have one murder/ self defense killing and few swears.
Nick, our hero, is described as being hideous and it's no wonder the heroine, Meryl is terrified of him, allowing her imagination run away with her. What will it take for her to see his true self underneath his ugly physique?
We start off the story during a siege in India, Meryl is with her father and his regiment and they have found that without reinforcements they can only hold out a few days more...
So, a daring escape is planned for Meryl, and Nick is the only one brave and intelligent enough to accomplish it.
During the escape we get to know them both well, and to see what they're worth, but Meryl still has her blinders on and can't see Nick's worth. He's priceless. Nick knows his own mind well, and is sure that one day she'll come to be of one accord with him. But Meryl is too hurt and lonely to make up her mind about Nick's worth and when someone who looks the part of a hero turns up, it will take something dramatic for her to see that it's not looks that matter..
Absolutely loved this! The hero can laugh at himself and is quite willing to wait forever for Meryl if he gets her in the end and if not, then he'll only relinquish her to someone who truly loves her and can make her happy. Otherwise, there's no knowing what ends he'll go to to save her from herself...
I was on tenterhooks.
One other thing I liked about this book was that marriage was viewed as sacred even when it wasn't perfect and most of the characters had high standards of right and wrong.
Dislikes: None whatsoever!
PG We have one murder/ self defense killing and few swears.
March 31, 2016
An original great love story.
When one wants to write a book of love that will take a breath away, that will be memorable, one must do at least one of these things:
1) put the plot in interesting times or/and places
2) construct good (real) characters
3) invent an original story.
When a book has all of these you can be sure you will not regret it if you read it. This is the case with "The Way of an Eagle". From the beginning (from the concept of an eagle circling over someone who he wants to have) to the end it is simply a brilliant story. I have read many romances (although not so many as most of the fans of the genre) and I can tell, this was refreshing.
Yes, heroes were sometimes annoying but that should be. I mean, a character in the book isn't for a reader, he isn't to please him. He doesn't have to be ideal. He has to be a human. Flesh and blood. The reader is only an observer, you can like what you read or not. It shouldn't matter for a writer. He should create his story not looking after a reader. In my opinion, only then we have really a good book. Just like "The Way of an Eagle".
It was my first book of Ethel M. Dell but surely I am going to read the next one in the future.
P.S. I have read a few words about Ethel M. Dell. Now I understand why she described a heroine's feelings so well. If you are not a shy person, at least a little or you haven't such friend, you won't probably understand her behavior. Or you will have some difficulties with understanding.
My favorite quotes:
When one wants to write a book of love that will take a breath away, that will be memorable, one must do at least one of these things:
1) put the plot in interesting times or/and places
2) construct good (real) characters
3) invent an original story.
When a book has all of these you can be sure you will not regret it if you read it. This is the case with "The Way of an Eagle". From the beginning (from the concept of an eagle circling over someone who he wants to have) to the end it is simply a brilliant story. I have read many romances (although not so many as most of the fans of the genre) and I can tell, this was refreshing.
Yes, heroes were sometimes annoying but that should be. I mean, a character in the book isn't for a reader, he isn't to please him. He doesn't have to be ideal. He has to be a human. Flesh and blood. The reader is only an observer, you can like what you read or not. It shouldn't matter for a writer. He should create his story not looking after a reader. In my opinion, only then we have really a good book. Just like "The Way of an Eagle".
It was my first book of Ethel M. Dell but surely I am going to read the next one in the future.
P.S. I have read a few words about Ethel M. Dell. Now I understand why she described a heroine's feelings so well. If you are not a shy person, at least a little or you haven't such friend, you won't probably understand her behavior. Or you will have some difficulties with understanding.
My favorite quotes:
She made a gesture of impatience. "Do you never think of the future?"
"Not in your presence," laughed Nick. "I think of you—you—and only you. Didn't you know?
"How can I be honest with you," he said, "when you are not honest with yourself"
"You are bound—some time—to reap what you have sown."
And this was Love—this hunger that could never be satisfied, this craving which would not be stifled or ignored—Love triumphant, invincible, immortal—the thing she had striven to slay at its birth, but which had lived on in spite of her, growing, spreading, enveloping, till she was lost, till she was suffocated, in its immensity
"I warn you, Muriel, you are putting yourself irrevocably in my power, and you will never break away again. You may come to loathe me with your whole soul, but I shall never let you go. Have you realised that? If I take you now, I take you for all time"
July 28, 2015
November 2022 re-read: Still compulsively readable, but with more angst than I usually go for these days. It takes itself pretty seriously. It's very imperialist. It's very dramatic.
Also... I'm confused by the ending. Are they... are they on Mount Everest? And if so.... but.... 🤔 huh. ok.
----------
Original review follows:
Wow. Intense. And I'm stingy with my 5-stars, so, yes, it was GOOD.
(Thanks, those who read this before me and reviewed it so glowingly! It was worth it!)
It's British-occupied India, and the natives are besieging the fort. There's one English girl there--the general's daughter Muriel. Between starvation and attack, death is almost certain. The general gathers his few remaining men and asks which of them has nerve enough to protect Muriel to the bitter end. Nick Ratcliffe is the only one to volunteer, to everyone's surprise. Nick is small, odd-looking, and unpredictable. But he has somehow won the general's unconditional confidence. Not so with Muriel. She's dismayed by her new protector, and when he suggests a daring escape from the fort she fights him tooth and nail. But it soon becomes apparent that he's her only chance of survival.
For better or worse, Muriel and Nick are stuck together in the worst of circumstances. The force of his personality sends Muriel into alternating fits of friendship and fear. And him? He's been in love with her from the first. This is an old-fashioned adventure/romance and it's impossible to put down. Read and enjoy
Also... I'm confused by the ending. Are they... are they on Mount Everest? And if so.... but.... 🤔 huh. ok.
----------
Original review follows:
Wow. Intense. And I'm stingy with my 5-stars, so, yes, it was GOOD.
(Thanks, those who read this before me and reviewed it so glowingly! It was worth it!)
It's British-occupied India, and the natives are besieging the fort. There's one English girl there--the general's daughter Muriel. Between starvation and attack, death is almost certain. The general gathers his few remaining men and asks which of them has nerve enough to protect Muriel to the bitter end. Nick Ratcliffe is the only one to volunteer, to everyone's surprise. Nick is small, odd-looking, and unpredictable. But he has somehow won the general's unconditional confidence. Not so with Muriel. She's dismayed by her new protector, and when he suggests a daring escape from the fort she fights him tooth and nail. But it soon becomes apparent that he's her only chance of survival.
For better or worse, Muriel and Nick are stuck together in the worst of circumstances. The force of his personality sends Muriel into alternating fits of friendship and fear. And him? He's been in love with her from the first. This is an old-fashioned adventure/romance and it's impossible to put down. Read and enjoy
February 18, 2017
Based upon previous reviews, I had high hopes for this book. Well, those were shattered by page one. Poorly written, weak plot, sexist and racist character stereotypes. The plot would not even make a bad Lifetime movie. Waste of time.
July 22, 2013
An English Brigadier-General surrounded by rebellious Indians and certain of his own death entrusts the care of his young daughter to one of his soldiers.
This soldier, named Nick Ratcliffe, has a seemingly frivolous character but in essence has a strong enough "nerve" to be entrusted with the commission, even if it should entail he has to "shoot her before your own last moment comes".
Before it should come to that, Ratcliffe tricks the terrified daughter, Muriel Roscoe, into escaping the siege with him, sparing her the sight of her dead father but earning her initial hatred and distrust, which turns to fear after he chokes a man to death to save her.
They grow close during their escape, however, and when they reach safety agree to marry. But just before the wedding, overhearing some gossip that he proposed under obligation, she withdraws her hand.
Fear not! Despite spurning Nick for the flimsiest of reasons, Muriel had taken his ring engraved with the latin phrase Omnia Vincit Amor ('love conquers all'), so you can rest assured that nothing, not even a subsequent engagement, nor the loss of an arm and our simpering, ungrateful heroine's complete lack of any quality beyond the ability to conjure tiredness at will can deny true love!
Sadly, not before Dell has Muriel wallowing in self-pity amid a turgid dung heap of desolate metaphors for pages without end. Poor Muriel, 'dwelling for so long in the sunless void of non-expectancy', convinced that 'her world was in ashes around her', her future 'black as night, a blank and awful desert which she felt she could never dare to travel'.
That's just three examples culled from a list of hundreds in the first few pages. OK, her father had not long died, fair enough. Yet months later we still find her at the gates of hell, as yet unable 'to step down again into even the minutest eddy of that ruthless flood.' The occasion? A game of hockey with some friends!
That's right, a life of luxury and idleness in a country home is somehow akin to a life of 'terrible, single-handed contests against overwhelming odds' to our sorry, hapless Muriel.
And don't mention pathos! Be warned, Dell can detect pathos in a missing dinner plate, the deepest agonies of the soul in the slightest predicaments. No wonder her characters are always so tired, their organs are perpetually 'throbbing', 'quivering' and 'palpitating' within their mushy frames, it's a wonder they can ever get any rest.
But really it's bathos in which Dell excels, albeit unconsciously. As she shamelessly over ramps the romantic rhetoric in her purple prose, her characters' remain haplessly prosaic, unable to mouth anything but the most prosaic inanities, such as "My own girl, don't be a goose!", or "Oh, rats!"
The language and tone is so oppressively, ridiculously melodramatic that it's easy to see why Wodehouse mocked this novel. For Muriel 'Life was ineffably dreary—when it was not revoltingly horrible'. For me, The Way of an Eagle was ineffably dreary—when it was not revoltingly horrible. Or both at the same time.
Utter tosh.
This soldier, named Nick Ratcliffe, has a seemingly frivolous character but in essence has a strong enough "nerve" to be entrusted with the commission, even if it should entail he has to "shoot her before your own last moment comes".
Before it should come to that, Ratcliffe tricks the terrified daughter, Muriel Roscoe, into escaping the siege with him, sparing her the sight of her dead father but earning her initial hatred and distrust, which turns to fear after he chokes a man to death to save her.
They grow close during their escape, however, and when they reach safety agree to marry. But just before the wedding, overhearing some gossip that he proposed under obligation, she withdraws her hand.
Fear not! Despite spurning Nick for the flimsiest of reasons, Muriel had taken his ring engraved with the latin phrase Omnia Vincit Amor ('love conquers all'), so you can rest assured that nothing, not even a subsequent engagement, nor the loss of an arm and our simpering, ungrateful heroine's complete lack of any quality beyond the ability to conjure tiredness at will can deny true love!
Sadly, not before Dell has Muriel wallowing in self-pity amid a turgid dung heap of desolate metaphors for pages without end. Poor Muriel, 'dwelling for so long in the sunless void of non-expectancy', convinced that 'her world was in ashes around her', her future 'black as night, a blank and awful desert which she felt she could never dare to travel'.
That's just three examples culled from a list of hundreds in the first few pages. OK, her father had not long died, fair enough. Yet months later we still find her at the gates of hell, as yet unable 'to step down again into even the minutest eddy of that ruthless flood.' The occasion? A game of hockey with some friends!
That's right, a life of luxury and idleness in a country home is somehow akin to a life of 'terrible, single-handed contests against overwhelming odds' to our sorry, hapless Muriel.
And don't mention pathos! Be warned, Dell can detect pathos in a missing dinner plate, the deepest agonies of the soul in the slightest predicaments. No wonder her characters are always so tired, their organs are perpetually 'throbbing', 'quivering' and 'palpitating' within their mushy frames, it's a wonder they can ever get any rest.
But really it's bathos in which Dell excels, albeit unconsciously. As she shamelessly over ramps the romantic rhetoric in her purple prose, her characters' remain haplessly prosaic, unable to mouth anything but the most prosaic inanities, such as "My own girl, don't be a goose!", or "Oh, rats!"
The language and tone is so oppressively, ridiculously melodramatic that it's easy to see why Wodehouse mocked this novel. For Muriel 'Life was ineffably dreary—when it was not revoltingly horrible'. For me, The Way of an Eagle was ineffably dreary—when it was not revoltingly horrible. Or both at the same time.
Utter tosh.
July 5, 2012
I love this book. Ethel Dell loves to write about the most unlikely of heroes... to take a man that some may think to be insignificant, not good-looking enough, and show you that man's most beautiful soul. I think that is why I love this book so much. I have read it many times.
January 8, 2022
A British officer in India, having failed to recognize a soon-to-be besieged fort in India as a poor choice for Take Your Daughter to Work Day, faces a choice: once he’s dead, which of the soldiers under his command will have the guts to kill Muriel, the daughter, to save her from a fate worse than death? (No one bothers to ask Muriel for her capture vs. death preference.) The obvious choice is big, strong, handsome Captain Blake Grange, but Muriel’s father picks small, wiry, satanic-looking Lieutenant Nick Ratcliffe. Nick and Muriel make a dramatic escape from the fort over a period of several days. After going through some love-hate stuff, they are blissfully and briefly engaged, but a misunderstanding arises and they part. Back in England, Captain Grange reappears, joins the hockey team Muriel and an adolescent friend play on, which somehow doesn’t strike anyone as totally bonkers, and Muriel’s friendship with him deepens. Will Muriel and Nick find their way back together? Take a wild guess! Be forewarned, though, that, although this and Dell’s other best-sellers are often described as bodice-rippers, no bodice is even slightly rumpled in this book. (I reviewed this book on my blog, mylife100yearsago.com.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
I loved the writing,Ethel M Dell truly had a gift for it.
The story is about Nick and Muriel,he a soldier asigned to save her from the residency besieged by indian forces,she the daughter of the residency's captain.
The hero is not depicted in typical fashion,being described as looking monkey like,with white battering eyelashes and wrinkled face,bony hands.But his character,personality and witty banter won him over.
The female protagonist I liked less,as she did not understand nor apreciate Nick's actions and for the majority of the story behaved stubornly and even stupidly.
I found her actions very frustrating at times.But in the end she matured and saw Nick for what he was worth. Interesting read and I will read the sequel too.
The story is about Nick and Muriel,he a soldier asigned to save her from the residency besieged by indian forces,she the daughter of the residency's captain.
The hero is not depicted in typical fashion,being described as looking monkey like,with white battering eyelashes and wrinkled face,bony hands.But his character,personality and witty banter won him over.
The female protagonist I liked less,as she did not understand nor apreciate Nick's actions and for the majority of the story behaved stubornly and even stupidly.
I found her actions very frustrating at times.But in the end she matured and saw Nick for what he was worth. Interesting read and I will read the sequel too.
February 25, 2014
fast read, requires little effort, with story line that while easy to predict ending, held my interest
July 31, 2026
*5/5 Stars
"Suddenly he looked straight at her, and his eyes were alight, fierce, glowing. But she felt a curious sense of scared relief, as if he were behind bars,-an eagle caged, of which she need have no fear."
Me reading that line:
Where do I even begin? Oh I know. To the random Goodreads user who's list I plucked this book from, thank you! You do not know the great service you have unknowingly done for me. Giving me the random chance of reading this brilliant, yet obscure classic that I would have never been able to find on my own.
Truly, I was having the time of my life reading this book. It had more twists and turns than a mystery book that it had me with my jaw dropping and gasping with sudden laughter because I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!
It has been awhile since a fiction books characters left a great dent in my psyche. I don't think I'll ever forget the absolute unit of a man Nick was. My goodness if I were Muriel, I too would be scared of such a character but incredibly intrigued. My poor girl was so confused and torn and I do not blame her!
Nick's character, though described as short and ugly, is redeemed through the sheer force of his personality. Piercing, jolly, burning like a star, unpredictable, chaotic, etc. The metaphor of Nick being compared to an eagle was so beautifully written all throughout the story. Every time it was referenced I felt like squealing- I'm not even joking when I say this.
And my girl Muriel, oh how I laughed at her witty remarks and temper when Nick had her torn, her softness towards Daisy and Olga, her handling of life's greatest challenges with such great strength. Truly, If I had to go through what Muriel did, I would not have half the strength as she. Feeling all alone in the world after her father's death and she still had the spirit enough to smile and face each day little by little. Even when there were moments where I was shaking my head at her, I knew that Muriel was trying so hard to find security in a world that has treated her a little too harshly as of late.
I loved the side characters too. Daisy, Olga (can't wait to read her book next!), Dr. Jim, Blake (pack it up loverboy), and even Will who had a fully fleshed personality despite seeing him so little. Honestly I was a bit surprised to see that even the side characters felt like real people. My modern eyes were so used to seeing background characters who had the personality of dried paint (not to discredit modern books that do have wonderful side characters, it's just I've been burned too much unfortunately), I had to remind myself that this was published in 1911 and not 2026, which is why it felt different! Such a refreshing read honestly. I can go on and on about this book, but I fear I may be stretching this review a bit.
So, if you ever find yourself debating whether or not to pick this book up, please do! It's such a shame that this book is not more well known. I will do all I can to spread this absolute underrated gem of a book to others.
Some more of my favorite lines:
"A joke only ceases to be a joke when there is no one left to laugh, sir."
"I am sure of it. You could make any woman who loved you happy. But no one-no one-knows the misery that may result from a marriage without love on both sides-except those who have made one."
"OMNIA VINCIT AMOR."
"Will drank submissively, and covered his face. "Oh, man," he whispered brokenly, "you don't know what it is to be despised by the one being in the world you worship."
Nick said nothing. His lips twitched a little, that was all." THIS ONE MADE ME LAUGH VERY MUCH.
"I may be small, but if I were no bigger than a mosquito, I'd keep on buzzing." Oh Nick.
"As you may have noticed, there is a little less of me than there used to be. I hope you think it's an improvement."
"I want your word of honour that if you ever change your mind about marrying me, you will come to me like a brave woman and tell me so."
"Because if you gave up your profession, you would be nothing but a vacuum. If the chance to destroy life were put out of your reach, you would simply cease to exist" My girl was so MAD.
"God help you both; for you are going to destroy him and yourself too."
"But it had never tortured her as it tortured her now,-now when her last hope was finally quenched-now when at last she fully realised what it was that had once been hers, and that in her tragic blindness she had wantonly cast away."
"Suddenly he looked straight at her, and his eyes were alight, fierce, glowing. But she felt a curious sense of scared relief, as if he were behind bars,-an eagle caged, of which she need have no fear."
Me reading that line:
Where do I even begin? Oh I know. To the random Goodreads user who's list I plucked this book from, thank you! You do not know the great service you have unknowingly done for me. Giving me the random chance of reading this brilliant, yet obscure classic that I would have never been able to find on my own.
Truly, I was having the time of my life reading this book. It had more twists and turns than a mystery book that it had me with my jaw dropping and gasping with sudden laughter because I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!
It has been awhile since a fiction books characters left a great dent in my psyche. I don't think I'll ever forget the absolute unit of a man Nick was. My goodness if I were Muriel, I too would be scared of such a character but incredibly intrigued. My poor girl was so confused and torn and I do not blame her!
Nick's character, though described as short and ugly, is redeemed through the sheer force of his personality. Piercing, jolly, burning like a star, unpredictable, chaotic, etc. The metaphor of Nick being compared to an eagle was so beautifully written all throughout the story. Every time it was referenced I felt like squealing- I'm not even joking when I say this.
And my girl Muriel, oh how I laughed at her witty remarks and temper when Nick had her torn, her softness towards Daisy and Olga, her handling of life's greatest challenges with such great strength. Truly, If I had to go through what Muriel did, I would not have half the strength as she. Feeling all alone in the world after her father's death and she still had the spirit enough to smile and face each day little by little. Even when there were moments where I was shaking my head at her, I knew that Muriel was trying so hard to find security in a world that has treated her a little too harshly as of late.
I loved the side characters too. Daisy, Olga (can't wait to read her book next!), Dr. Jim, Blake (pack it up loverboy), and even Will who had a fully fleshed personality despite seeing him so little. Honestly I was a bit surprised to see that even the side characters felt like real people. My modern eyes were so used to seeing background characters who had the personality of dried paint (not to discredit modern books that do have wonderful side characters, it's just I've been burned too much unfortunately), I had to remind myself that this was published in 1911 and not 2026, which is why it felt different! Such a refreshing read honestly. I can go on and on about this book, but I fear I may be stretching this review a bit.
So, if you ever find yourself debating whether or not to pick this book up, please do! It's such a shame that this book is not more well known. I will do all I can to spread this absolute underrated gem of a book to others.
Some more of my favorite lines:
"A joke only ceases to be a joke when there is no one left to laugh, sir."
"I am sure of it. You could make any woman who loved you happy. But no one-no one-knows the misery that may result from a marriage without love on both sides-except those who have made one."
"OMNIA VINCIT AMOR."
"Will drank submissively, and covered his face. "Oh, man," he whispered brokenly, "you don't know what it is to be despised by the one being in the world you worship."
Nick said nothing. His lips twitched a little, that was all." THIS ONE MADE ME LAUGH VERY MUCH.
"I may be small, but if I were no bigger than a mosquito, I'd keep on buzzing." Oh Nick.
"As you may have noticed, there is a little less of me than there used to be. I hope you think it's an improvement."
"I want your word of honour that if you ever change your mind about marrying me, you will come to me like a brave woman and tell me so."
"Because if you gave up your profession, you would be nothing but a vacuum. If the chance to destroy life were put out of your reach, you would simply cease to exist" My girl was so MAD.
"God help you both; for you are going to destroy him and yourself too."
"But it had never tortured her as it tortured her now,-now when her last hope was finally quenched-now when at last she fully realised what it was that had once been hers, and that in her tragic blindness she had wantonly cast away."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2020
Boring, melodramatic, predictable, and annoying. The beginning was the best part, with the siege and actual action. It seemed like it was going to be a book I'd like, but it went steadily down hill. The rest of it was an angsty and miserable girl with little personality being wishy washy and making capricious decisions I didn't understand. I understood what motivated the main guy, but I thought he made poor and unwise decisions in how he carried and expressed himself, and he was annoying me too. This book was angst and melodrama all the way through, and I have little patience for that. I ended up skimming more and more as I went on, though I did get to the end. Other than the siege, my favorite part was In conclusion, I do not recommend this book.
December 30, 2021
This is a wonderful and thrilling book. It has romance and adventure. The writing and the dialogues have such an old world charm to them. You’ll be transported to British India.
The only thing that bothered me was how obtuse Muriel was. How couldn’t she see that Nick loved her and cared for her. How could she be afraid of someone who starved himself so that she would have something to eat? That’s why I’m taking a star off.
4 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The only thing that bothered me was how obtuse Muriel was. How couldn’t she see that Nick loved her and cared for her. How could she be afraid of someone who starved himself so that she would have something to eat? That’s why I’m taking a star off.
4 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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March 28, 2024My 13-year old self found this book while away on summer holidays, and called it a “really excellent love story”. Not sure if that means 48-year-old me would like it… but I remember loving it and always wanting to read it again, but never finding another copy.
December 27, 2018
Kiihkeää rakkautta 1910-luvulla eläneen silmin: luokkaeroja, brittiläistä siirtomaahenkeä, kuumia katseita ja kohoilevia poveja.
June 24, 2026
Mixed feelings on this one...but I was entertained enough to keep reading.
September 20, 2026
I enjoyed rereading an old favorite
July 23, 2015
A mild adventure with most of the plot rotating around two characters and their on-again, off-again romance until the happy ending. I really liked the characters, pretty much all of them. I tired a bit of the woman and her vacillating. Loved that not only are marriage and honor sacred and respected, but that only one character was lost, and he a bit of an expendable softie. This is the kind of book that would help someone recover from an overdose of Russian lit. It had trouble holding my attention because of the simple plot, but the characters made up for it. I'm not really interested in this author. In fact, at this point I feel I've read enough softer books and want some more challenge. As in Chesterton, or somebody. To the to-read list!
August 26, 2015
I don't know that I can give a true review because when I ordered the book, I received a condensed version. Now, that could be actually good or bad. The main problem for me with this book (that really gets my goat no matter what book/author/movie I find it in) is that the girl is soooooo useless and personality-less that I just wonder why in the world the hero would have fallen for her in the first place. If the writing in the original version was really good, maybe I would have 'felt' her character better and not been annoyed by that, but based on one reviewer's opinion, I was actually just saved from pages upon pages of her whining and moaning.
December 19, 2016
Review to follow
April 29, 2017
To be perfectly honest, had I known that this book was partially set in colonial India, I would have not agreed to buddy read it. It takes a good writer to write from the perspective of the colonizer in a way I find appealing, but this book didn't even try to humanize the natives or create anything worth reading.
This book is a romance novel, but one that has flat, stock characters that just fall in love out of the blue and it's just way too long. Not an enjoyable read.
This book is a romance novel, but one that has flat, stock characters that just fall in love out of the blue and it's just way too long. Not an enjoyable read.
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