At the heart of this gothic, richly poetic novel is a relationship between a servant, Blanche Steadman, and the family of her master, a powerful Guyanese judge. As the book progresses toward an emotional revelation, a cast of unforgettable characters is introduced—including Disguile, with his dreams of a new empire ruled by black men; the cross-dressing Baby-Boy, with his face painted white; and the mysterious Irene Gittings, the market woman who befriends Blanche. At question in their relationships is whether happiness is possible in a divided nation, in a Guyanese society that shuts its eyes and ears to past and present suffering.