A MATTER OF HONOUR: AN ACCOUNT OF THE INDIAN ARMY, ITS OFFICERS AND MEN.

New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974. 582 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H). Map endpapers, B&w photographs, reproductions, maps. "From the time of Clive to the violent days of Partition in 1947, British power in India was dependent upon the Indian Army. Only once was the link between the British officers and the Indian soldiers broken - at the brutal explosion of the Indian Mutiny in 1857; but even that apparently fatal rift was healed. (This book) examines the relationship between the Indian soldiers and their officers: what made them endure hardship, risk wounding and sometimes go to a certain death; their sense of duty and service, loyalty to the regiment and to the distant Crown. Dwelling sometimes on a campaign, sometimes on an episode in the course of a battle, sometimes on the story of one regiment or one man, Philip Mason tells the eventful and often dramatic story of the Indian Army. What emerges is a picture of an institution whose strength rested finally on a concept of personal honour." Faint cigarette odor, light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine, minor edge wear, previous owner's bookplate on verso of free front endpaper. Dust jacket has light to moderate edge wear/wrinkling, moderate to heavy creases at top/bottom edges of front panel. small tear at bottom of front hinge and front flap-fold, spine and flap-folds have browning.. First American Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good-.