Historical fiction book · Curated
The Four Feathers
A. E. W. Mason · historical fiction
In 1882, before his regiment sails with Lord Wolseley’s expedition, Harry Feversham resigns his commission and is given three white feathers by his brother officers; at a dance in Ramelton, Ethne Eustace breaks a fourth from her fan. A. E. W. Mason’s 1902 novel is Victorian adventure historical fiction of the years he then spends disguised in Egypt and the Sudan, trying to win the feathers back in the Mahdist war.
Why read it: A widely searched adventure novel—the Mason title readers look up by name (and the film adaptations), and a Sudan counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf.
About this historical novel
The Four Feathers by A. E. W. Mason is historical fiction set around 1882–1888 in the Victorian / Gilded Age period with key settings including Ramelton, London, Cairo, Suakin. In 1882, before his regiment sails with Lord Wolseley’s expedition, Harry Feversham resigns his commission and is given three white feathers by his brother officers; at a dance in Ramelton, Ethne Eustace breaks a fourth from her fan. A. E. W. Mason’s 1902 novel is Victorian adventure historical fiction of the years he then spends disguised in Egypt and the Sudan, trying to win the feathers back in the Mahdist war.
On HisFic we tag it under 6. Adventure & epic and 5. Military & war so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include courage, empire, honor, disguise, and war. A widely searched adventure novel—the Mason title readers look up by name (and the film adaptations), and a Sudan counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf.
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Plot summary
In 1882, before his regiment sails with Lord Wolseley’s expedition, Harry Feversham resigns his commission and is given three white feathers by his brother officers; at a dance in Ramelton, Ethne Eustace breaks a fourth from her fan. A. E. W. Mason’s 1902 novel is Victorian adventure historical fiction of the years he then spends disguised in Egypt and the Sudan, trying to win the feathers back in the Mahdist war. A widely searched adventure novel—the Mason title readers look up by name (and the film adaptations), and a Sudan counterpart to The Far Pavilions already on the shelf.
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Regions & places
Africa · Britain & Ireland
Ramelton · London · Cairo · Suakin · Omdurman · Sudan
Themes
- courage
- empire
- honor
- disguise
- war
Tags
adventure · classic · war