Godden enriches seven of her novels with her judicious use of her experiences in India. The Peacock Spring is the most mature of these. It addresses several issues which were certainly compelling before India became independent, although they are chiefly of historic interest now. Godden describes the social superiority of the English in India, still operative in Una's and Hal's attitudes toward servants and toward most other Indians, particularly Hem, a gifted medical student. Alix's mother, a Eurasian, and Alix herself are despised as half-breeds, a degradation which the beautiful Alix strives to overcome; her mother has long since accepted her status and revels in coarse pleasures and garish taste.

Finally, in one powerful incident Godden describes the elopement of Ravi, a Brahmin working for Sir Edward as a second gardener, and Una, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the English family. They begin the long journey, mostly...