
First love can bring ecstasy and pain, sometimes also disillusion. To Gail Redding it brought all three and for a time it seemed as if she would never be able to throw off the shackles of her past. Eventually she decided to leave England and visit friends in West Africa. She fell in love again, this time with a man of integrity, a Security Officer. But she kept the one secret her husband could never forgive. His work was dangerous, and life in the Bush was good and harsh, but Gail tackled it bravely, until, but a strange quirk of fate, the past imprisoned her again, threatening her husband's career and their life together.
Gail Redding attempts to escape the emotional constraints of a traumatic first love by relocating to West Africa, only to find her new marriage threatened by a hidden secret from her past. Seeking a fresh start, Gail marries a Security Officer of high integrity, hoping to leave behind the disillusionment of her youth. The narrative follows her adaptation to the harsh, demanding environment of the African Bush while she struggles to maintain her facade of normalcy. As her husband's career faces external pressures, the sudden resurfacing of her past creates a logical and emotional conflict that tests the foundation of their relationship. The story is presented as a character-driven drama focusing on the tension between personal history and present commitments.
Readers often note that this work reflects the stylistic conventions of mid-twentieth-century romantic drama, emphasizing emotional endurance and the complexities of marital trust. Discussion frequently centers on the protagonist's internal struggle to reconcile her past experiences with her desire for a stable future. Critics highlight the author's ability to contrast the atmospheric setting of the African Bush with the intimate, often claustrophobic nature of the central secret. The pacing is generally described as steady, prioritizing character development and the gradual escalation of tension over rapid plot progression. Many readers appreciate the focus on the moral dilemmas faced by the characters as they navigate the intersection of professional duty and private life.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
1970-08-01
Publisher:
Arrow Books
ISBN-10:
0090034902
ISBN-13:
9780090034901
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