Arundel

In the heat of a March afternoon on the North‑West Frontier, a seasoned British officer rides home through the dusty, sun‑dappled avenues of Peshawar. Colonel Fanshawe, a man of steady resolve and quiet affection for his regiment and family, is poised to attend a grand dinner and dance that marks the end of a long day of inspections and ceremony. The narrative paints the landscape in vivid detail—carob trees arching over the road, the distant Indian plain stretching to the horizon—while introducing the disciplined world of colonial military life.

Beyond the festive evening, the story hints at the subtle strains that pull at Fanshawe’s loyalties. As the commander prepares to move through the Khyber Pass, the officer must navigate the expectations of duty, the quiet needs of his wife and daughter, and the complex currents of a region on the brink of change. The novel weaves together duty, family, and the uncertain future of a world where empire and personal desire intersect.