This autobiography investigates the life and creative development of Roy Campbell, a prominent South African poet and satirist, within the context of his turbulent political and social environments. Campbell chronicles his upbringing in Durban, his subsequent relocation to Europe, and his involvement in various cultural and political movements of the early 20th century. The text serves as a personal record of his artistic evolution, his interactions with contemporary literary figures, and his often controversial ideological stances.

Critics often note the prose is marked by a combative and highly opinionated tone that reflects the author's polarizing reputation. Scholars view this work as a significant primary source for understanding the aesthetic and political tensions inherent in the life of a 20th-century expatriate writer.