A sailor returns to his English village with a Dahomeyan princess as his wife, triggering immediate social friction and moral scrutiny from the local community. William Targett, a retired sailor, attempts to integrate his wife, Tulip, into the rigid social structure of a nineteenth-century English village. He faces opposition from neighbors who view their marriage as an affront to local customs and racial norms. The narrative follows their struggle to maintain their domestic life against the mounting pressure of public disapproval and economic hardship. The story is told through a detached, observational lens that emphasizes the contrast between the couple's private bond and the external societal judgment.

Readers and critics often note the stark, unadorned prose style that characterizes Garnett's writing. Discussion frequently centers on the author's ability to depict the cruelty of small-town social dynamics without resorting to overt melodrama. The book is recognized for its historical focus on the challenges faced by those who exist outside the established social order. Many readers highlight the effectiveness of the atmosphere, which captures the stifling nature of the village environment. The work remains a subject of interest for those examining early twentieth-century literary approaches to social critique.