The story in one page
In 1886, Lucy Josling leaves the comfort of Berkshire for East Africa to marry John Baines, a dedicated Methodist missionary. Their union is a collision of earnest piety and Lucy's growing realization that she is ill-suited for the heat and hardship of the interior. While John laboriously preaches in Kagulu, the political landscape shifts around them. Following a lethal attack on their station that leaves John dead, Lucy finds refuge with Roger Brentham, a pragmatic official. The narrative follows their transition from the raw, dangerous wilderness of the 1880s to a 'vulgarized' colonial territory defined by telegraph lines, military posts, and the eventual upheaval of the Great War.
Who's who
- John Baines
A devout Methodist preacher whose farewell sermon precedes his African mission.
- Lucy Brentham
A pretty, homesick woman who survives marriage to a missionary and resettlement.
- Roger Brentham
A pragmatic British official who manages the 'Happy Valley' and marries Lucy.
- Ann Anderson
A plain, devoted mission worker who harbored unrequited love for John.
- Ali bin Ferhani
A local leader who provides protection to the mission survivors.
What it's really about
- Colonial Evolution
- Transition from 'unspoilt' nature to industrialized, bureaucratic territory.
- Duty vs. Desire
- Characters balancing religious obligation against personal happiness and survival.
Why it's memorable
- A wedding party drinking champagne and lemonade in the heat of a Sultan's stable carriage.
- A grieving woman finding copy-books and a stone bottle of ink among mission ruins.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
After surviving the Great War and seeing his sons perish, Roger Brentham chooses the peace of the Happy Valley over a strike-ridden England, staying in Africa until his old age.
For your book club
- The contrast between early explorers' 'unspoilt' nature and the later 'vulgarization' of Africa.
- The moral ambiguity of 'doing the right thing' when religious zeal leads to tragedy.