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Bugles and a Tiger - A Volume of Autobiography (Masters Autobiography Trilogy #1)
by
John Masters
1956 Viking Press. Book of the Month Club. Hardcover with dust jacket. Includes 4 page Book of the Month Club insert.
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Community Reviews
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Masters wrote three books of autobiography. This is the first. I read the second (The Road Past Mandalay, his WW II years) last year. This one covers the years from his enrollment at Sandhurst to the start of the second world war. It is a story of conflict, but not simply battles. It is the conflict within the young man, born in India but not Indian; a British officer but not in the British army; his love of India and understanding that the place he loved was bound for change.
This is an important book for readers who like to scour military memoirs for a certain type of on-the-ground insight. I appreciated Masters' commentary about the Ghurkas and their fighting history. And I found his descriptions of the Northwest Frontier (i.e. Afghanistan/Pakistan) eerie and worrisome. A solid book. A memoir that doesn't reach too far.
A previous reviewer warned that if a potential reader was looking for an account of what war was like with the predecessors of today's Taliban, they would be somewhat disappointed. Indeed, John Master's account of war with the Pathans only accounts for roughly 10-15% of this book. However- that isn't to say what is there, isn't of value. There are descriptions of combat and the region which may be of interest to someone familiar with the most recent conflict, not to mention that Master's complai
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Fantastic story of a piece of history slipping ever more into the past. This is In the tradition of Heroditus, with Masters writing so we can remember what things were like at a specific time and place. Don't read this for a battlefield analysis of Imperial counterinsurgency in the Northwest Frontier Area, but read it for the good yarn it is, the excellent writing, and the reminder that things really haven't changed that much.
Feb 05, 2012
Ensiform
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction
,
india
The autobiography --- or at least a part of it --- of a man who went from a student at Sandhurst to officer in the Prince of Wales’ Own Gurkha Regiment in what is now Afghanistan. Masters came of age during the last days of the British Raj, and loves India as a true home (even as he recognizes how silly that sounds to independent Indians).
He writes with perspicacious detachment on growing up, on becoming a man, on valor and discipline and honor, and has a lot of sensible things to say on British ...more
He writes with perspicacious detachment on growing up, on becoming a man, on valor and discipline and honor, and has a lot of sensible things to say on British ...more
A very period piece. I felt at a disadvantage for a number of reasons. First, I'm not British. I don't have a military background. The world has changed quite a bit since pre WWII. And I think I would have a different view of India if I had also read some Kipling.
But, it is pretty insightful of life as a soldier in India. For instance, I can totally understand needing a letter invitation from a host, before your commander would issue your leave. In the true military sense, this story was so lau ...more
But, it is pretty insightful of life as a soldier in India. For instance, I can totally understand needing a letter invitation from a host, before your commander would issue your leave. In the true military sense, this story was so lau ...more
copied and pasted KIRKUS REVIEW
If any writer could persuade the American reading public to read a detailed record of five years as a very junior officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, that one might well be John Masters. For he was that young officer, fifth generation of his family to serve in India. He is known in the U.S.A. for a number of distinguished novels, with Indian backgrounds. Here we have his authority. Born in Calcutta, of English parentage, he was ed ...more
If any writer could persuade the American reading public to read a detailed record of five years as a very junior officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles, that one might well be John Masters. For he was that young officer, fifth generation of his family to serve in India. He is known in the U.S.A. for a number of distinguished novels, with Indian backgrounds. Here we have his authority. Born in Calcutta, of English parentage, he was ed ...more
If you are a fan of writing about India and the British Raj, you shouldn't miss this one. John Masters wrote many books about India featuring the Savage family, most famous among them being "Bhowani Junction." This book is about his own career as an officer in the British Indian Army. It is the first part of the two part autobiography, the second being ' The Road Past Mandalay."
Masters portrays a realistic picture of what it was to be a young British officer in the Indian Army, its social norms, ...more
Masters portrays a realistic picture of what it was to be a young British officer in the Indian Army, its social norms, ...more
Feb 05, 2013
TheIron Paw
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those interested in India, Military History.
Shelves:
military-history
,
history
This is a fascinating autobiography of a young British officer in a Ghurka regiment in India in the last years of the British Raj. Masters provides insight into India during this period, British military tradition (particularly the role of "the Regiment"), the Ghurkas, and military action on the NW Frontier of India. He describes his development as a young officer without hiding his foibles and mistakes, as well as his successes. The book ranges from action, to descriptive, to reflective, to hum
...more
An interesting account of military life in and around India in the '30s. It is really more a collection of essays and anecdotes than a coherent autobiography.
A wonderful, thoughtful book. A portrait of a man who is one of the last of his kind, but an open-minded soul willing to embrace and learn from new people and places. Done in a fine style with typically british wit.
Also contains an excellent cocktail recipe.
Also contains an excellent cocktail recipe.
It is a must read for military enthusiasts of the Old Indian Army. Humorous and simple, just like the Gurkhas.
Apr 02, 2012
Matthew
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history-world-war-ii
This is an interesting memoir about coming of age within the Gurkhas in the years of the build-up to the Second World War. Looking forward to reading the second part The Road Past Mandalay.
unbelievable. phenomenal stories serving on the British Indian frontier with Afghanistan. Lots of fun, lots of lessons.
The life of a british officer in the Indian Army in the 30s and 40s, very good.
trials of a very young sub lt in the Brit Indian forces
Master's autobiographical writing.
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Masters was the son of a lieutenant-colonel whose family had a long tradition of service in the Indian Army. He was educated at Wellington and Sandhurst. On graduating from Sandhurst in 1933, he was seconded to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) for a year before applying to serve with the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles. He saw service on the North-West Frontier with the 2nd bat
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More about John Masters...
