This work investigates the administrative, social, and psychological realities of Western civilians held in Japanese internment camps during the Pacific War. Bernice Archer utilizes archival records, personal diaries, and survivor testimonies to reconstruct the daily existence of internees across various locations in Asia. The text argues that the internment experience was not a monolithic event but a fragmented reality shaped by local camp conditions, varying levels of Japanese oversight, and the diverse backgrounds of the civilian populations involved.

Historians recognize this text as a significant contribution to the study of civilian experiences during the Second World War. Scholars frequently cite the work for its meticulous documentation of the disparate conditions faced by internees across different geographical regions.