The Road to Mandalay: A Tale of Burma

"The Road to Mandalay: A Tale of Burma" by B. M. Croker is a story that begins in a quiet English village, where the Misses Tebbs, two elderly sisters, notice something is wrong with their rich neighbors, the Shafto family. With the blinds drawn, the sisters suspect some misfortune has befallen them. The book then explores the themes of social class, family ties, and how sudden sadness affects peoples lives. As the Misses Tebbs discuss the Shafto family – Mr. Shafto unexpectedly passing away, leaving behind financial problems and family drama – the reader is brought into a community filled with secrets. Details about Mrs. Shafto’s fancy habits, her rocky marriage, and her son Douglas’s duties after his father's death come to light, hinting at themes of loss, change, and a journey to Mandalay, which could mean both a physical trip and a personal search for identity and belonging.