This first novel by a prolific contemporary writer who has written for more than fifty years offers exploration of a number of recurring themes that appear in her fictional work. By thoroughly exploring various power struggles on the African continent of the early twentieth century, Doris Lessing established herself as a writer known for her politics. Not only does Lessing clearly delineate the typical racial relationship between white farmers and their native workers, she addresses how and why the whites continued to oppress the native workers and allowed few variances in the unequal balance of power. Raised in Southern Rhodesia, the author intimately knew such relationships and recognized the injustices.

Her autobiographies, Under My Skin (1995) and Walking in the Shade (1997), have indicated that she particularly drew upon her personal experiences to develop the characters and issues of her early stories.

Lessing further explores power relationships between...