This is the gripping tale of one mans struggle to erase the brand coward from his name.
Just before his regiment sails off to war in the Sudan, British officer Harry Feversham quits the military. He is immediately given four white featherssymbols of cowardiceone each by his three best friends and one by his fiance. To disprove this grave dishonor, Harry dons an Arabian disguise and leaves for the Sudan, where he anonymously comes to the aid of his three friends, saving each of their lives. Having proven his bravery, Harry returns to England, hoping to regain the love and respect of his fiance.
This suspenseful tale movingly depicts a distinctive code of honor that was deeply valued and strongly promoted by the British during the height of their imperial power.

A. E. W. Mason (1865-1948) was born at Dulwich, England. A graduate of Oxford, he first became a professional actor before becoming a playwright. When he turned to writing fiction, he became a versatile and prolific author, excelling at historical fiction, adventure fiction, social melodrama, and crime fiction. Many of his books have been the basis for motion pictures. He is perhaps best remembered today for his tales of adventure and detection, often set in exotic locales. He was a man of adventure himself, and during World War I, he served as a spy for the newly established British Secret Service.