Unfolding within a framework of two tumultuous weeks, this novel tells of the struggle for autonomy both a young woman and a repressed country face. Interweaving the young woman’s gradual growth to consciousness with the death of the British plantation system, this story portrays the demise of an economic and political system paralleling the development of an individual. While presenting Caribbean politics in an understandable way, this tale also includes insight into Afro-Indian relations, traditional healing practices, and family relationships.