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Last Updated: Jan 16th, 2010 - 15:26:11 |
See the Video About Beast of Bengal!
What if a war-time psychologist nearly loses his own sanity in the act of trying to save his own patients? That is the premise of Elaine's suspense novel Beast of Bengal. During World War II, 30-year-old Richard Benet is assigned to the 142nd General Hospital in Calcutta. Serving as an officer in charge of a neuropsychiatric ward, he immerses himself in treating mental cases; writing to†his wife Rita, and exploring Calcutta. He fails to recognize that his commanding officer, Colonel James McDermott-- on his way to becoming an opium addict-- is smuggling drugs out of the hospital to support not only his own habit but also the Indian Independence Movement. Only after Richard is trapped with a man-eating tiger and the 142nd General is nearly sabotaged does the psychologist give up romantic notions about India. With newfound wisdom and strength, Richard saves himself, his patients, and the hospital. The Richard Benet who sails back to America is a less idealistic but far more courageous man than the know-it-all Ph.D. psychologist at the novel's outset.
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