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KEENE, Henry George.
A Servant of "John Company" - Being the Recollections of an Indian Official.
First edition. In many ways Keene reflected the changing nature of British rule in India, he joined the ICS in 1846 and retired in 1883: "For some Englishmen, India was truly a 'land of regrets'. This would characterize Keene's career … As a member of the East India Company's Civil Service, Keene prospered under the tutelage of Lieutenant-Governor James Thomason in the north-West Provinces. About this period Keene's autobiography possesses the spark and drive of a young sub-district officer who enjoyed his work and did it well. However, with the death of Thomason and the great changes engendered by the Mutiny of 1857 seemed to break his spirit and his career" (Riddick). During the Mutiny Keene was "chief civil authority [Superintendent] in the District of Dehra Dun" (Sorsky) A neatly restored copy of a book often found in poor condition.
Octavo. Original red cloth, title gilt to spine, arms of the East India Company gilt to the upper board. Recased and the spine relined. Photogravure portrait frontispiece and 6 half-tone plates. Reacsed as noted, spine mottled, boards a touch rubbed, contents clean and sound, about very good.
