The setting is a very detailed inside look at what it was like for the rulers of the UK to deal with the nationalist movement in India. The plot is thin, about what we would get in a 50 page Carr story, but the suspense is good for a full novel. The romantic angle is much like in Carr. Along the way we get good sarcasm about british public opinion, good subtle satire on british politicians, and an idea of the complications of international politics on the brink of ww2. ( )