The Deceivers is a 1952 novel by John Masters on the Thuggee movement in India during the period of British rule during the 19th century. It was his second novel, following Nightrunners of Bengal. The story shows how British officer and colonial administrator William Savage learns of the thuggee cult, infiltrates their society, learns their ways and code of communication, and destroys them by capturing or killing their key leaders. During his travels with the thuggee, he almost falls prey to the cult's ways as he comes to experience the ecstasy of ritual killings. The story shows how complex the web was in terms of type and stature of people involved with the thuggee cult. The Deceivers portrays the thuggee cult and corruption during Company rule in India.
Adaptations (1)
The Deceivers was adapted into a 1988 film.
The Deceivers1988 · film · 102 min · dir. Nicholas Meyer · IMDb ↗IMDb6.033%India, 1825: the country lives in mortal fear of cult members known as the “Deceivers." They commit robbery and ritualistic murder. Appalled by their activities, an English military man, Captain William Savage, conceives a hazardous plot to stop them. In disguise, he plans to himself become a “Deceiver” and infiltrate their numbers. Ever present in Savage’s adventures is a sense of dread; he is in constant fear of betrayal and vengeance and also undergoes a disturbing psychological transformation as he experiences the cult’s blood lust firsthand.
