The Four Feathers is a novel written by A.E.W. Mason in 1902. The story is set during the late 19th century and follows the adventures of Harry Faversham , a young officer in the British Army . Harry is deeply in love with Ethne Eustace, but just as he is about to propose to her, he receives orders to go to Sudan to fight in a war against the Mahdi, who is leading a rebellion against the British. Harry is torn between his duty to his country and his love for Ethne. The novel is a powerful tale of redemption, courage, and love, and has remained popular for over a century. A. E. W. Mason (1865-1948) was an English author, playwright, actor, army officer, intelligence agent, and politician. He is best known for his 1902 novel "The Four Feathers" which tells the story of courage and cowardice in wartime. Mason is also known for creating Inspector Hanaud , a French detective who was an early template for Agatha Christie's famous Hercule Poirot. Despite being one of the most popular authors in life, he was almost forgotten soon after his death in 1948.