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    The Far Pavilions
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    The Far Pavilions
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    The Far Pavilions
    Ebook1,648 pages31 hours

    The Far Pavilions

    By M. M. Kaye

    4.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    This sweeping epic set in 19th-century India begins in the foothills of the towering Himalayas and follows a young Indian-born orphan as he's raised in England and later returns to India where he falls in love with an Indian princess and struggles with cultural divides.

    The Far Pavilions is itself a Himalayan achievement, a book we hate to see come to an end. It is a passionate, triumphant story that excites us, fills us with joy, move us to tears, satisfies us deeply, and helps us remember just what it is we want most from a novel.

    M.M. Kaye's masterwork is a vast, rich and vibrant tapestry of love and war that ranks with the greatest panoramic sagas of modern fiction, moving the famed literary critic Edmond Fuller to write: "Were Miss Kaye to produce no other book, The Far Pavilions might stand as a lasting accomplishment in a single work comparable to Margaret Mitchell's achievement in Gone With the Wind."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateDec 1, 2015
    ISBN9781250089298
    Unavailable
    The Far Pavilions
    Author

    M. M. Kaye

    M.M. Kaye (1908-2004) was born in India and spent much of her childhood and adult life there. She became world famous with the publication of her monumental bestseller, The Far Pavilions. She is also the author of the bestselling Trade Wind and Shadow of the Moon. She lived in England.

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    Reviews for The Far Pavilions

    4.5/5

    30 ratings24 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The wonderful sense of adventure and mysterious places it was able to develop.
    • 4/5
      This is a big novel, part romantic fantasy and part a gritty history of invasion and war. It has to be big, to combine the two. Historically, it’s fascinating and very real. Romantically, it’s pleasurable and escapist, with dashing heroes and rescued princesses. It never gets overly sentimental, and the writing is both precise and dynamic. The close description of a suttee chilled me to the bone.

      What holds the history and the fantasy together is a detailed understanding of India and Afghanistan, and of Britain’s relationships with these two countries in the late 19th century. The relationships between many religions, practiced by people living at close quarters with each other, is an ongoing theme of this novel. It’s really about the intersections between cultures. The geography of this novel is amazing too, beautifully and lovingly described.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I'd never even heard of this book till recently, but it is an instant favorite.
      You will not believe how many THINGS happen in this book. It's almost 1000 pages and breathlessly exciting on every one.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      If you haven't read this book, it's time you did! The setting is today's India/Pakistan during British rule in the 1800's. Historical fiction gives a perspective to this (thankfully) bygone era that was eye-opening, surprising and thought-provoking to me as a reader! Everything about this novel is fantastic. A beautifully written portrait of romance and adventure!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Review for the BBC audio dramatisation.I'm amazed that a book of 960 pages could possibly be cut down to 4.75 hours listening time, without it feeling hacked, but this audio version of The Far Pavilions has achieved just that. I haven't read the book so I have no idea what is missing, but the BBC dramatisation gave a very atmospheric rendition of the adventures of Ashton Pelham-Martyn, born in India, of English parents but raised as a native Indian. He then returns to relatives in England and trains to be a British soldier. Being fluent in Indian dialects, it is not long before he is stationed with the Raj, back in India of the 19th Century.He has strong opinions, often at odds with his superiors and he voices or acts on these rather too enthusiastically at times. This gets him into some awkward situations. He is a good soldier, however, and keeps the listener's support through thick and thin. True to form, he falls in love with totally unsuitable women, but it all adds to the excitement!The dramatisation is narrated by no less than 25 actors, unlike many audiobooks where one, or at most two, voices attempt to cover all the characters of a book. My favourites were Ashton (also known as Ashok), read by the wonderfully British accent of Blake Ritson and Sita, who raises Ashook as her child until she dies - continuing to narrate the story in spirit form, in the voice of Vineeta Rishi.What I didn't like was all the overly dramatic huffing and puffing, hence the four star rating. Audio kissing didn't come over very romantically, either.With wonderful descriptions of both India and Afghanistan, adventure and romance, this is an excellent listen. Recommended.
    • 3/5
      The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye – historical story of adventure and romanceThis is a review of the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation (on 4 CDs), not the whole book. Unsurprisingly, as this is from the BBC, the dramatisation is excellent, with a wonderful cast who turn in really believable performances. The sound quality is great; in fact, I was listening on earphones while doing the gardening, and at one point I mistook the background noises for something actually happening in the street outside!As for the story itself, well there are many good reviews on here which I won’t try to emulate. Suffice it to say that I was carried along on the story of Ashok who is brought up in India by his Hindu nurse, and then in his teens send to England to be educated and sent to Sandhurst, returning to India as Ashton Pelham Martin, army officer. Back in India, he puts his understanding of the local people (Hindus and Muslims) to good use, but also falls in love with an Indian girl. I found the story fascinating and the characters reactions and behaviours believable. Some scenes that that may have been in danger of being soppy were well done and sad without overdoing it. I also felt that it raised issues that are still relevant today, particularly about how we treat people who come from a different culture from oursHowever, I don’t feel I can give the book the glowing review that so many people have given it here. Possibly this is because of the serious abridging that the BBC had to do to reduce the story to 4 or 5 hours in length.
    • 5/5
      You know that kind of novel where you turn to page one, and hours later blink and look down to find hundreds of pages went by? This is that kind of novel. Kaye was born, raised, and spent her early married life in India, and she and her husband came from a long line of British officers that served the British Raj. In fact, given the dedication, Walter Hamilton, a character in the novel, was related to her husband. So she certainly has the credentials to bring the India of the Raj to life, nor is the novel blind to it's uglier aspects. And the pageantry of multi-ethnic, multi-religion India she presents is fascinating, with the kind of rich details that inspires a reader to read more about the land after the novel's end. She centers her tale around Ashton Hilary Akbar Pelhman-Martyn. A boy orphaned by the Sepoy Mutiny of 1856, he's raised as a Hindu and when he's returned to England can't really adjust, finding he's a man torn between the cultures. There's also romance and adventure to be had--it's a terrific yarn and quite suspenseful in parts. At first the last 250 pages centered on Afghanistan seemed an anti-climatic digression, but I ultimately felt it effectively tied together the novel's themes of tolerance and acceptance, as well as holding its own fascination for showing how Western powers came to grief over a hundred years ago in a "fanatically independent" land.
    • 4/5
      An epic romance of the British Raj, this book is a massive undertaking. I started it last year, read a bit and put it down to concentrate on other, shorter works. I had heard that it was a sweeping romance of the type that I have always loved and that I would fly through it. Well, I didn't love it (didn't hate it) and I certainly didn't fly through it. But it is a book that has a little of everything for the interested reader. Ashton Pelham-Martyn is but a baby when his explorer/linguist father dies of cholera in the Himalayas. His Indian nurse takes the boy and tries to find his people but this has all happened against the background of a massive mutiny against the English and so she keeps the child, renames him Ashok and raises him as her own until the time he is taken into the household of a royal household far from the violence. It is here that Ash first meets and befriends the princess Anjuli, a young child who is neglected by the women of the harem and by her half-brother. But treachery is afoot and in the end Ash has to flee for his life. Learning of his British heritage, Ash is eventually sent to England to complete his education before being posted back to India as a military officer. The story picks up steam once Ash returns to India and is entrusted with the escort of two Rajasthani princesses to their new husband. This escort will change everything. The book is definitely a romance, an adventure story, a history of the British Raj, and it truly sweeps across the landscape of colonial India. It captures a nation simmering closer to a boil under the rule of colonizers. And while the picture it draws is engrossing, it is also sometimes quite stereotypical with the either noble or conniving natives, the bumbling and insensitive British, and Ash Pelham-Martyn, the ever-understanding bridge between the two worlds, a man who is driven by love: love of Juli, love of people, and love of the land of his birth. As a sentimental picture, this is pleasing and the story romps along at a good pace but there is just a bit too much rosiness to make this completely satisfying. India is an eminently fascinating place and the turmoil and tension in the waning years of the British Raj make for great stories. Ash's identity crisis, his tolerance of all people, and his ability to understand many sides of a story are certainly object lessons we still need to learn, especially in many parts of the world. Most fans of historical fiction will rate this one as a favorite of all time. I think I was just looking for something a bit more realistic although had I read it many years ago when I first bought it, I think it would have hit my all time list too. Unfortunately, timing is everything and while I thought it was a good read, it wasn't all I had hoped.
    • 5/5
      This is one of my favorite books. It is the story of a small British boy growing up in colonial India in the 1800's just at the time of the first Indian Mutiny. His Hindu serving woman rescues him after his parents die and takes him away, convincing the young boy that they are going to play a game that he is really her son. After a few years, the boy forgets that it was ever a game. It is not until his 'mother' is dying that he learns the truth: that he is a British citizen. His life becomes a seesaw of trying to fit in and find his place. There is a wonderful romance, an adventure to save a princess, and more, but mostly it is a story of finding oneself and being content with what is found.
    • 4/5
      This was an odd one. A slowish start, then a steady buildup to one heck of a shocker (my coffee went cold in Starbucks as I couldn't leave my seat before I found out what happened). But once that bit was passed the novel descended into monotone, with a lengthy final chunk spent fighting in Afghanistan, which whilst offering an insight into some of the difficulties being experienced in that country today, was nevertheless a tough read.
    • 4/5
      Great book. Period.
    • 5/5
      Every now and then over the years I've pulled this one off the shelf and re-read it, it is hypnotic.
    • 5/5
      The term 'sweeping epic' is used so often it's become a cliché, but it's actually an accurate description of The Far Pavilions. M. M. Kaye takes us on a journey across 19th century India and Afghanistan, during which we witness some of the major turning points in the history of those two countries.The Far Pavilions is the story of Ashton Pelham Martyn's struggle to find his identity. At the heart of the story is a forbidden romance between Ash and the Hindu princess, Anjuli. However, that's only one aspect of the book. Non-romance fans will enjoy the action and adventure, descriptions of military life or simply learning more about 19th century British-ruled India. Of all the historical fiction books I've read, this is one of the most detailed and well researched. Whilst reading this book I've learned a huge amount about 19th century British India, from the names of mountains and rivers, details of battles and mutinies, facts about Hindu and Islamic culture, right down to the various types of flora and fauna. M. M. Kaye spent a lot of time living in India which explains how she was able to write so convincingly about the country and its people. It's also interesting that although the author was British, she uses various characters in the novel to explore conflicting opinions on whether British rule was a good or a bad thing for India.At more than 950 pages it does sometimes feel as if the book will never end, but that's not necessarily a bad thing because it's one of those books that pulls you into the story so much that you don't really want to reach the last page and leave behind the characters you’ve spent so much time with. However, the main storyline comes to a natural end at around page 700 and the book could easily have finished at this point in my opinion. The final 200 or so pages deal with the Second Anglo-Afghan War which is still interesting to read about but could have been the subject of a separate book
    • 4/5
      I had really expected to love this book. I had heard so many great things about it, plus it's mostly set in India, which is one of my favorite countries to read about. While I did really enjoy the plot, the writing itself did not appeal to me. Many times the author would state the same (very obvious) thing over and over again. If it weren't for that, my rating would be much higher, because the story itself is wonderful!
    • 5/5
      Where do I begin with The Far Pavilions? It’s an epic love story with a complicated, suspenseful plot, and any review I might write wouldn’t do it justice. But I’ll try. Ashton Pelham-Martyn is born in India in 1852, the son of a famed British scholar. When his father dies, Ash is entrusted into the care of his maternal uncle. However, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 changes the course of his life, and Ash goes into hiding with his foster mother, Sita. Later, Ash becomes a servant in the royal court at Karidkote, under the crown prince. While there, Ash meets Juli, and his life changes once again.MM Kaye was born in India and lived there for a significant part of her life, and it’s clear from this novel that India left an indelible, positive mark on her. India in the time of the British Raj fairly oozes from all 955 pages of this epic novel about love that transcends culture, caste, religion, and other factors. Kaye does a fantastic job of describing the differences between each of the Indian city-states, and then contrasting them with the oh-so-different British, who don’t quite understand (or even try to) the ways of the natives. There are lots of long, descriptive passages in the novel, which sometimes slows the novel down; but at other times, those passages would heighten the suspense factor for me. My other criticism is that the part of the book that takes place in Afghanistan seemed like an afterthought and detracted from a nearly perfect storyline. But this was the kind of book that I had to read in small chunks because of how emotionally draining it was. And also, because I didn’t want it to end.
    • 5/5
      I am a big fan of great big novels with sweeping epic storylines. The more historically accurate the better. However, I am not a big fan of romances. “The Far Pavilions” is one of the few exceptions to this rule. The star-crossed love story of Ash and Juli is engrossing and breath-taking.Set against the backdrop of British India in the waning days of Pax Britannica, M.M. Kaye weaves historical facts and references into this lush love story. Ashton Hillary Akbar Pellham-Martin, an englishman born to an eccentric explorer grows up torn between England and India. Anjuli-Bai is the forgotten older sister of the adored princess of a tiny mountain kingdom. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination . . . Normally, I like books with a healthy dose of action with character development taking a back seat. Again, this book is the exception. The book follows Ash as he grows from a rag-tag boy to an arrogant English officer, and finally into a man who has lost the world in order to gain his heart’s desire. Juli is the only constant in his life. When she was a sad and serious little girl, she was his best friend. Fully grown into a stunning young woman, she is resigned to a fate that will keep them apart forever. Finally, she is the wise and mature partner who leads Ash away from the ruin of everything he had believed in. Sigh, makes me want to read it again . . . Why readers should read this book:Brilliant description and narrative makes India feel as familiar as my backyard. Excellent weaving of historical facts into the fictional love story. This hefty book will only make you wish it was longer.Why writers should read this book:Perfect example of a historical romance. M.M. Kaye never breaks character. The Indian characters are as arrogant as the British and the use of accurate historical speech and detail pulls the reader deep into the story and never lets them go. Still brilliant after thirty years.
    • 5/5
      A truly excellent historical novel
    • 5/5
      A monument in historical fiction ( yes, it's romance, but so is Gone With the Wind). I did my capstone project on MM Kaye and her amazing life. Her biographies tell an important story about revisionist history - how the people of India prefer to forget the story of the Black Hole of Calcutta. She is an important author, along with Kipling and others, for the study of post-colonialism.
    • 5/5
      Follow the life and love of an orphan .. turned spy .. turned hero. Travel India and Afganistan with the back drop of the British Colonization of India. This is one of the best Historical Fiction books ever written. A classic, must read. Don't expect to put this one down. Put aside a weekend or two - this is one book you'll want to read over and over again. This was my introduction to historical fiction. M M Kaye brings India to life through her research and life experience. The detail is outstanding. **Don't watch the movie. You'll be disappointed.
    • 5/5
      I would give this 10 stars if I could, I had forgotten how good this book was. A truly wonderful story of star-crossed lovers, treachery, intrigue, heroism, honor and bigotry. The author has a great feel and understanding of India under the British Raj. The story of Ash and Juli (Anjuli) was incredible. I could literally feel Ash's pain while he had to sit through watching Juli be married to the evil Maharajah. The first 2/3 of the book deal with Ash and Julie's early lives together, culminating in the rescue of Juli from being Suttee with her sister. Those pages have to be some of the most heart stopping, page turning, sit on the edge of your seat excitement that I have ever come across in a book (and I have read a few). The last portion of the book gets away from Ash and Juli (although they are together) and slows down to tell the story of the British incursions into Afghanistan (sp?)and the resultant disaster of setting up a British mission in Kabul. Ash is still prominent as a "spy" for the guides, in the disguise of a native of the country, but while still a good read, the story takes on a different character from the first portions of the book. As a side note, if you are searching for a book for a younger teen to read, this is a good choice. The few scenes between Ash and Juli that were sexual in nature were left mostly to one's imagination. This author is capable of building her scenes without graphic play by play bodice ripping. **Update** I recently discovered another of this author's books, The Shadow of the Moon. It's out of print but readily available used or at your library. Another lovely tale of India, set during the 1857 Sepoy rebellion. If you enjoyed TFP, you will probably enjoy this as well. ***Update***I have just finished another story on the Sepoy rebellion, Zemindar. Out of print, but readily available used. A wonderful tale, with some of the most gorgeous prose I've seen in a long time.
    • 5/5
      A fantastic book that conveys a vivid picture of life in India during the time of British rule and eventual rebellion. M.M. Kaye writes with a great sense of the place, the people, and the time.
    • 5/5
      It's about a British boy that got raised the first 11 years in his Life by an Indian woman, but finally got back to his "roots", got educated in Britain and went back to the British military in India. He never really felt like he belongs to any of the two races and that's the main reason why a lot of stuff develops in his Life like it does."I actually liked the book a lot. I never read anything about India before and never had a closer look on Indian history.It is a Novel, but the details in History are not Fantasy. It gets a ***** out of 5 from me. From first to last page a good, capturing read.
    • 5/5
      Yes, the mini-series was just plain awful. But if you're looking for a nice long read, with plenty of PG period romance, action, exotic scenery and cringe-free prose, this is an excellent choice.
    • 4/5
      This sweeping romance, published in 1978, was wonderfully satisfying to read while I was up late nights with a newborn. It’s the story of Ash, a boy whose English parents die while he’s traveling with them as an infant in India during the British Raj. He’s raised by his Indian nurse as her own child, until palace intrigue forces her to surrender him to the English; he grows up neither quite English nor Indian, has many adventures, falls in love a few times, and generally dashes around doing exciting things. The descriptions of places and people are wonderful – Kaye makes the reader share Ash’s frustration with the English refusal to believe that Indians really do have their own cultures and ways of thinking, and won’t automatically do what an English person would do in the same situation. The final battle goes on for fifty pages but reads in a quick rush – a great example of how to write a complex battle in a way that’s engaging and clear to the reader.