Summary

In Part 1, Chapter 1, Ranjit Kripal Singh narrates his life and says that he came to London shortly after World War 2. He was 18 years old at the time and lived in a London boarding house. The other boarder was a young woman of Maltese descent named Lieni, whom Singh befriended. Singh digresses to state that what he writes is his memoir. At the time of writing, he is 40 years old, and his political career has ended. He says that he is from a Caribbean island called Isabella, and he writes, “I know that my return to my island and my political life is impossible” (10). Singh recalls that he and Lieni once went to a christening for the child of one of Lieni’s friends, after which there was a party. At the party, people of all different backgrounds were present, including Maltese...