"One of our great writers, of the calibre of Graham Greene and Nabokov." - Beryl Bainbridge
"He deserves the widest possible readership." - Melvyn Bragg, Punch
"Mr. King is, of course, an extremely skilful writer. All his characters are credible, all worth observing." - Auberon Waugh, Evening Standard
"No one writes better prose than Francis King." - Ruth Rendell
Hugh Craddock's idyllic childhood in India comes to a sudden and violent end when his parents are murdered by natives hostile to British occupation. Abruptly snatched away from every happiness he has...