The Broken Road

"The Broken Road" by A. E. W. Mason is a piece of historical fiction set in the early 1900s, during the height of the British Empire. The story unfolds in Chiltistan, a region mirroring British India, where Charles Luffe, once a military officer, now works as a political agent navigating the tricky world of colonial rule as a rebellion simmers among the local people. Linforth, a central figure, shoulders the responsibility of constructing a road that will either bring prosperity or ignite conflict, while his fearful wife, Sybil Linforth, awaits news from home. The story's opening highlights Linforth's dangerous situation as he oversees the road's construction, as news about the danger reaches Luffe, who journeys to provide help, contemplating the nuanced relationship between British leaders and local chieftains. Through personal drama, political schemes, and the shadow of “The Road,” the novel questions loyalty and betrayal.