History Literature / TheFarPavilions

* AlphaBitch: Janoo-rani for starters, and then Belinda. Later on, Shushila. Their personalities and actions speak for themselves.

* {{Angst}}: As Ashton is [[CosmicPlaything life's favourite thing to pick on]], he comes supplied with plenty of this. Every now and then he can [[{{Wangst}} overdose on this as well.]]

* AnyoneCanDie: It is a book with over 1000 pages, covering ''years''—what else do you expect?

* AscendedExtra: Several of the background characters or just passing names become ''much'' more valuable to the plot later on.
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Janoo-rani,]] who apparently was poisoned. Later on, [[spoiler: Biju Ram]]. For the majority of readers, it's [[spoiler: Shushila.]]

* BadassBookworm: [[BrainyBrunette Ashton.Pelham.Martyn]] who speaks, reads, and writes in several languages—and can still ''kick your ass''. Zarin, Koda Dad, and the rest. Pretty much ''all'' members of the Corps of Guides, and the locals who work along side them. You had to pass ''painfully'' difficult examinations and then some more to even be ''thought'' of as a future member of the Corps.

* BadassNormal: No special powers, just pure SuperToughness, and impressive day-to-day badass living for the Corps, natives, and majority of men in those days.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: ''Completely averted'' with Janoo-rani, Belinda and then [[spoiler: Shushila]]. Anjuli usually is this, though she has a few darker moments.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The young, pretty, and very vicious Belinda. Later on the incredibly manipulative Shushila who hides her evil behind her extraordinary beauty. Averted with Janoo-rani who flaunts her bitchy evil.

* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: Usually Ashton and Anjuli, though sometimes it is reversed.

* ChildOfTwoWorlds: Ashton could be the poster boy of this, being a white British boy who did not know of his British blood until he was 12, and had spent all his former years raised in Indian culture, and speaking the language. Needless to say, his sudden uprooting, and forceful induction into British culture and the UK, came as [[{{Understatement}} quite the culture shock]]. He spends [[ComingOfAgeStory almost the entirety of the book]] struggling to balance his two cultural sides, while trying to find out who Ashton truly is as a person.
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: In a very touching example, Anjuli towards Ashton (then known as "Ashok"), who was the only person who truly cared for her, and treated her with affection, as she was ill-treated by almost everyone else. After Ashton escapes the palace, this turns into PatientChildhoodLoveInterest for Anjuli for ''years''. Later on, Anjuli triumphs as the [[ChildhoodFriendRomance Victorious Childhood Friend]] towards Ashton, who falls for her almost from the moment they meet again as adults.

* CoolOldGuy: Many scattered throughout the book, but especially Koda Dad Khan who is also an OldMaster, and beloved father-figure to Ashton. Also, Mahdoo, Kaka-ji Rao. [[OneSceneWonder Later on in his brief appearance, Red.]]
* CoolOldLady: The wise, tolerant and understanding Mrs. Viccary, an older woman who befriends Ashton, even becoming [[SecretKeeper his private confidante]] several times. Their friendship is based on the fact that she, (like him), loves India and is educated and respectful of its customs and its people.

* CultureClash: Played with in terms of Britain and India—on one hand, there is mutual (and especially on the Indian end), increasing dislike of the other; the British especially are shown many-a-time to be [[MightyWhitey insensitive and mocking of Indian Culture]], but then again, [[MirroringFactions both sides are shown to have racist ideas towards the other.]]

* DancesAndBalls: In the early part of the novel, these are mentioned frequently.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Not everything, but from the time Ashton goes to work and then later on, becomes a playmate for the spoiled prince Lalji of the Palace of Winds, until his escape to save his own life some years later. Not to mention the fact that Ashton didn't even know he was actually ''white and British'' until he was 12, caused ''serious identity problems'' for him that continue to plague him until the very end of the book.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Ashton gets hit with this repeatedly throughout the book as it is connected to his FatalFlaw, but no more so than during [[spoiler:the Bithor Arc.]]
* DirtyForeigner: How some of the British see the Indians (most notably, Belinda and her mother)—even though they're in ''their'' country. On the other hand, plenty of Indians/Muslims feel this way to ''each other'' depending on location/Caste/skin colour. It really turns into the pot calling the kettle black.

* DoubleStandard: The men, both British and Natives, are free to carry on with women as they please on the side, but the women, no matter their race, are expected to remain prim, proper and very submissive towards a man—and proper virgins until they're wed, unless they have a profession in the sex industry (and then of course, they're looked down upon by society, even by the men who make use of them!).

* DwindlingParty: Several times: when Ashton and company go on a three year mission to catch a thief on the Frontier; when Ashton and company attempt to [[spoiler: rescue Anjuli and Shushila from suttee after the Rana dies]], and finally when Ashton, Wally, and their fellow comrades fight in the Second Afghan War.
* DysfunctionJunction: Everywhere—what with a bit off BigScrewedUpFamily, characters shuffled in and out of the TraumaCongaLine, half the cast with a DarkAndTroubledPast...basically, this book screws everyone over, and then a couple more times to get the job done right.
* EmptyShell: Hinted at while the rescue mission is taking place but revealed fully later on, [[spoiler: Anjuli is shown to have become this, thanks to Shushila who has finally revealed her true colours, coupled with the crushing loneliness, and lack of love Anjuli experienced while in Bhithor. Taken up to eleven when Anjuli finally reveals to Ashton that she was starved and kept in isolation ''by Shushila''.]]
* EndOfAnAge: Several times. When [[spoiler: Ashton escapes from The Palace of the Winds, his life—and even his ''identity''—comes crashing down upon him.]] Again when [[spoiler: Ashton and Zarin part ways, Ashton himself realizes that that part of his life is over, and he is embarking on a new phase.]] And then at the very end of the book, [[spoiler: Ashton leaves every single thing or person (except for Anjuli and his servant) behind to start a new anonymous life where his own life began]]—at the foothills of the Himalayas, [[TitleDrop the Far Pavilions.]]
** Though the book ends somewhere in the 1880's, The British Raj draws ever nearer to its ultimate end, and the era and lifestyle move ever closer to their demise. It's incredibly [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet and moving]].
* TheEpic: On the scale of Russia's ''War and Peace'', and America's ''Gone With the Wind''—which are no small feats by any means.
* FatBastard: The Maharajah of Bithor, who is as disgusting as he is evil.
* FatalFlaw: For Ashton, it is his impulsiveness, as well as childish belief of "it's just not fair!". It takes him ''over 900 pages'' to overcome this.
* FirstGirlWins: It was inevitable that [[spoiler: Ashton would end up with Anjuli, whom he has known since she was just a baby, and he a young boy,]]but the way the author approaches this makes for a captivating read.
* ForeignCussWord: In an amusing scene, Ashton swears in an Indian language when in the company of British army-men—the only person who picks up on how foul his words are, is an Indian servant who is shocked. There is also another scene where he's speaking to Anjuli in Hindi after she sneaks out to meet him the same night they meet for the first time years later—[[WhatTheHellHero Ashton swears and calls her a bitch]] in English after she accuses him of being frightened that they would be discovered—''not'' one of Ashton's better moments.

* GigglingVillain: Ugh, Biju Ram and it's ''creepy''.

* GrowingUpSucks: The first sub-book which covers Ashton's childhood and teenage years is pretty much this, starting with Ashton being made Lalji's playmate, then Sita telling him his true parentage, and finally being taken back to England to be brought up "properly" as an Englishman—after spending 12 years of his life thinking he was Indian. GrowingUpSucks indeed.

* HopelessSuitor: George for Belinda which turns out HORRIBLY. Later on, [[spoiler: Wally for Anjuli; he doesn't even ''try'', considering he knows Ashton and Anjuli only have eyes for each other.]] He's happy for them nonetheless.
* HotBlooded: Ashton sometimes—much to his own frustration, and the massive annoyance and condemnation of his superiors.

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Wally. [[spoiler: Even until the end.]]
* ItsAllAboutMe: There is a brief moment where Ashton goes through this thought, fantasizing about [[spoiler: getting Anjuli back from the clutches of the Rana, regardless of his companions all dying, coupled with the immense danger of provoking war with Bhithor]]. He's ''utterly disgusted'' and angry at himself for even thinking such a thing.
* IWasQuiteALooker: The reader is informed that this is what eventually happens to Belinda (which she remains utterly oblivious to), when she's been married to her ''much'' older husband for some years. Gone is the young, pretty yellow-haired girl—she's been replaced by a "stout" woman with faded hair and an aged face.

* KnightInSourArmor: The increasing mess of the plan and the actual, ''disastrous'' attempt to [[spoiler: rescue Anjuli and Shushila after their husband, the Maharajah of Bithor dies]], makes Ashton and pretty much everyone else involved in said rescue become this.

* TheLancer: Wally to Ashton.

* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Of course Ashton and Anjuli—without each other, they can never be happy. {{Justified}}, as they're [[OneTrueLove two halves of the same whole]], and it is shown in the book just how well suited they are for one another.

* MadeOfIron: Mostly averted, because even though Ashton is strong and in tip-top physical shape, the harsh lifestyle and difficult duties make him susceptible to serious injury more often than not.

* AManIsAlwaysEager: After they kiss in the caves, Ashton has to restrain himself from having his way with Anjuli. Then again, in his situation, it's hard to blame him.

* MayDecemberRomance: Ashton's parents ''were'' this, Belinda's marriage ''is'' this, and Anjuli's marriage ''would have been'' this. Her sister, Shushila ''had'' this. Quite a common trend, given the time period. (Ashton himself is six or seven years older than Anjuli, which, while being a difference, is still not enough to fully become this trope.)

* MightyWhitey: Averted. Sure, majority of the British army personnel, and the civilians are under this impression—they're ''dead wrong'' for the most part. While certain British ways/inventions/strategies are used, they're not presented nor implied to be anything along the lines of MightyWhitey. Both sides are shown to have things to learn from each other; not to mention, the theme of MightyWhitey is presented only to be deconstructed and discussed.
* MightyWhiteyAndMellowYellow:
** Averted wonderfully. Ashton does not "get" Anjuli because he's white and British—their relationship, their love of each other is rooted in the past they share together, which none but them understands. Anjuli has loved Ashton even before she (or he!) knew he was actually European; she has loved him since he was a child, then known as Ashok, and (to everyone including himself), an Indian boy. She loved him and knew him first as such; later, when they meet as adults, she's immediately drawn to him, and this again stems from her love of Ashok, now Ashton. Him being white and British in reality, does not change anything of her feelings for him. She loves Ashton regardless of whether he's British or Indian.
** Likewise, Ashton, though he only fell in love with Anjuli when he met her again as an adult, did not "fall for her" because she was this lovely Indian girl. Rather, he felt the deep bond and love for her based on their incommunicable past, which no one but them would ever know or understand. His love for her began with their connection from the past—she is the only thing from that era which hasn't, and which never does change for him. She is his stability, his unchanging comfort, his anchor. He needs her, he cannot live without her. She feels the same.
* MoodWhiplash: Several times, and to a [[FromBadToWorse shocking degree]].
* MountedCombat: You want to get someplace quickly on land, and then battle in the 1800s? Best bet is a horse.
** HorsebackHeroism: What you get when you mix a horse with MenOfIron.
* MysticalIndia: The book showcases the mystical, ancient side of India—for instance, there is suttee, medicine men, charming snakes to do your bidding; there are rajahs, and ancient temples alongside gorgeous, sprawling palaces, elephants, tigers; beautiful princesses, and conniving royalty. Then again, this part of India WAS true of India in that period and its history. At the same time however, the book ''also'' makes sure to point out the stereotypes about India, and makes sure to show the complexity of the land and its people as well as customs. The author also makes sure to point out the hypocrisy of British rule, and deconstructs the "nobility" of said British Rule—calling out the WhiteMansBurden, and the superior thinking of the British towards the Indians, especially as it is shown the British had many things to learn from India and the Indian peoples. (And vice-versa). The book shows over and over that ''both'' sides have things to learn from each other: in some things the British way is better, in other ways the Indian way works best, and then,[[TakeAThirdOption sometimes a mix of both is the right choice.]]

* NiceToTheWaiter: Ashton, who befriends several servants closely, (and who turn out to be very helpful later on). Anjuli too, but with varying results.

* NobodyThinksItWillWork: The general, and thought of those who know Anjuli and Ashton's true relationship. For [[StarCrossedLovers obvious reasons]].

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Both Ashton and Wally, though Wally is the true example of this, being both an extremely loyal soldier and very gentlemanly by nature. Ashton's...much more of a refined BadBoy.
* OldManMarryingAChild: What happens to the 13 year old Shushila when she's betrothed to the much older Maharajah of Bithor. However, for the customs of the era and the country, this was normal and not seen as such.

* {{Omniglot}}:[[LikeFatherLikeSon Like his father before him]], Ashton is gifted with the ability to speak, read, and write in several languages, though this skill isn't limited to just himself—members of the Corps ''had'' to be able to do this, in order to communicate and more effectively "govern their subjects".
** Non-Corps members, i.e, the Pashtuns or Indians, pretty much grew up with this ability.
* OneManArmy: Averted, as Ashton definitely ''needs'' his fellows/any useful men to help him in larger-scale missions, war—or the rescue of princesses.

* PennyAmongDiamonds: [[spoiler: George,]] though he does his best to hide it.
* PeriodPiece: An excruciatingly researched and historically accurate fictional story covering the mid to late 1800's British Raj, the Second Afghan War, and mentions of ''loads'' of former, (and important), historic dates that took over a decade to write and is ''absolutely awesome.''

* PlainJane: Anjuli was ''not'' a pretty child. [[SheIsAllGrownUp Later on however...]]

* TheProtagonist: The one and only Ashton of course. Some claim that India itself is also a protagonist of sorts as well.

* RaisedByNatives: A truly ''epic'' example: [[spoiler: His mother having died due to complications of childbirth, Ashton is then taken care of by his absentminded father, Professor Hilary, and his father's friend, the retired officer Akbar Khan, as well as Sita, the wife of Hilary's groom—the latter two of whom love him as their own son, and spoil him. Ashton spends the first 18 months of his life among the mountains, and by the time he is four years old, doesn't speak a word of English—only the local dialects of which he picks up a lot, having acquired the talent of languages from his father, the Professor. He rarely wears European clothing, and dresses like the locals, passing as them as well due to the fair-skin, and Caucasian features of the Indians around him.\\
When the camp is struck by an epidemic of cholera, his father, Akbar Khan, and Sita's husband (among many others), are all taken by it, leaving Sita to take care of not-even 5 year old Ashton when the rest die. Though they leave the camp, the violent Sepoy Uprising of 1857 (The Sepoy Mutiny), prevents Sita from returning Ashton to his distant English relatives—they escape the bloody situation, and find refuge in the kingdom of Gulkote where Ashton continues to be raised as an Indian child, totally forgetting that he is in fact, a white British boy. Known as "Ashok" (Ash), Ashton is eventually hired as a servant boy and later, companion for the crown prince of Gulkote—it is here that he meets and befriends the mistreated princess, baby Anjuli, who grows very close to him, along with Zarin, and his father Koda Dad Khan.\\
Some years pass and Ashton discovers a murderous plot against the prince, but discovers that he himself will be killed for the discovery. To save his life, he is urged to flee with Sita. He parts from Anjuli and the rest, and escapes from the city. Sita dies shortly afterwards, but not before she gives Ashton the long withheld information of his true lineage, the documentation, and also the instructions to find his relatives. This Ashton obediently does, and at the age of 12, returns to England to spend the next several years in [[FishOutOfWater constant opposition and confusion with everyone.]] He is sent to boarding school (where he excels in his studies but fails to make any friends), to be forcefully molded into "a proper British man" with a "proper British way of thinking".]] Ashton returns to India as a young man in late summer, 1871.
* RealMenLoveJesus: The devout Irish-Protestant Wally loves the Lord just as much as he loves war. Ashton tends to be much more of a NayTheist. Anjuli, in her turn, is pretty much the 1800's version of an atheist—she doesn't believe in any gods, and she feels that if they exist, they ignore her pleas to them. Everyone else tends to be either Muslim, Hindu, or some form of Christianity. There's even one Jew mentioned!

* RetiredBadass: Several former, older army men throughout the book such as Akbar Khan or Colonel Anderson—they may not be in action much anymore, but boy, are they still badass!

* SceneryPorn: There is some truly gorgeous imagery throughout the book. Perhaps that is why there were ''actual tours'' crafted both around and to the locations described in the book, due to its immense popularity.

** Ashton loses his virginity rather amusingly when he's "taken advantage of" at the age of 16, by naughty housemaid Lily Briggs, five years his senior back in England. He's [[DoesntUnderstandSex confused by the encounter]] but goes along with it, finding it "immensely enjoyable", and proves to be an "apt pupil". They spend the next several days romping in bed together every night until their little fling is found out—Lily is dismissed, and Ashton is soundly thrashed. It's ''hilarious''.

* SexlessMarriage:[[spoiler: Fortunately for Anjuli, her marriage to the Rana is in name only; he never even lays a finger on her—which is good for [[CrazyJealousGuy Ashton]] as well.]]

* ShownTheirWork: M.M. Kaye, the author, grew up in and ''loved'' India and lived many years of her life there—it shows beautifully in her writing. While her story is fictional, the setting is painstakingly researched; the country, laws, rules, geographical location, land-type, buildings, transportation, manners, social customs (both British and Indian), and war are all ''accurately described''. Even such things as clothing, medical treatment, food, wording/slang of the day are written flawlessly. And M.M Kaye not only keeps this up for every change of scenery, land and location (even by boat!) but continues for ''over 1,000 pages''. Showing their work indeed.
* ShrinkingViolet: As a child, Anjuli was this, being cast off, abused, and forgotten by the rest of the servants at Janoo-rani's orders. George Garfoth is implied to be one as a little boy as well.
* SilkHidingSteel: Under their beautiful exteriors, the quiet, gentle Anjuli, and the spoilt, selfish Shushila are this.

* SingleTargetSexuality: Anjuli has eyes for no one but Ashton, and others might as well not even exist.
** [[spoiler: Wally subtly has this for Anjuli later on.]]
* SmoochOfVictory: After spending weeks (perhaps over a month), with each other, as Ashton is the British soldier in charge of leading the bridal party to Bhithor, and having secret (totally platonic), meetings at night recalling their childhood together, Ashton, Anjuli, and a few others go riding. However, a massive sandstorm swells up, Ashton and Anjuli are separated from the rest, and seek shelter in a large cave. They get separated from each other while inside the pitch-blackness and Ashton, fearing that Anjuli has injured herself calls out desperately for her. She answers, stumbles into his arms and Ashton (who by this time is very much in love with her), kisses her both in thankfulness and desire.

* SophisticatedAsHell: Sometimes.

* StiffUpperLip: British or not, everyone gets their turn at repressed emotions. It was either this, or break down completely, especially in drastic situations.

* TallDarkAndHandsome: Ashton always was on the verge of this, but as a full-grown adult he achieves it with his swarthy, brooding looks, dark hair, and tall, lean-muscled build. Several other men in the book are this as well, both among the British and the natives of India. Zarin, George, Sarji, and the Pashtuns in general.

* TroubledButCute: [[BornUnlucky Ashton.]] Just [[CosmicPlaything look at all the shit the universe makes him go through!]]

* WickedStepmother: Janoo-rani to Anjuli.

* FridgeBrilliance: The [[spoiler: ending of the story takes place in the 1880's where Ashton is in his latter 20's...he could still be alive (though a very old man), in 1947—the year India finally gains its independence from Britain.]]

* ArcFatigue: The final sub-book gets a lot of flak from readers from being an overly detailed, terribly boring account of [[spoiler: The Second Afghan War.]] It just goes on and on and ''on''—no wonder most readers are completely turned off from it!

* EndingFatigue: The final sub-book simply reeks of this as fans have complained, and could have benefited from some serious editing.

* HoYay: Some other soldiers—especially the older ones—think that Ashton and Wally are "too close", and that their relationship is "improper" and "odd".

* TheWoobie: Ashton's flavours come in TheWoobie, IronWoobie, and StoicWoobie. Justified, since life has a bad habit of making him somewhat of a TheChewToy.
** Like Ashton, Anjuli suffers with being the Woobie; she's [[TheWoobie picked on, abused and neglected as a child]], later on she's [[IronWoobie forced into an arranged marriage]] and then must live with, and take care of a [[StoicWoobie very selfish, spoiled half-sister while not being allowed to be with Ashton, whom she loves more than anything.]]
** [[spoiler: George Garforth]] too, being half-caste, and [[PassFail trying to make it through British society.]]
** Pretty much ''everyone'' gets their share of this, especially [[WarIsHell during the Second Afghan War]] where life shits on everyone, from soldiers to civilians—even the landscape!

* ButNotTooBlack: Anjuli, who comes from mixed lineage thanks to her Russian grandfather, who fell in love with, and married, her Indian grandmother. Early on in the book, [[spoiler: George]] too—he ''almost'' passed, but [[AlphaBitch Belinda]] ruined his chances.