Christian missionaries attempt to outlaw the female circumcision ritual and in the process create a terrible rift between the two Kikuyu communities on either side of the river. The people are torn between those who believe in Western/Christian education and the opportunities it will offer, and those who feel that only unquestioned loyalty to past traditions will save them. The growing conflict brings tragedy to a pair of young lovers who attempted to bridge the deepening chasm.

恩古吉·瓦·提安哥（1938— ），肯尼亞小說傢、劇作傢、政論傢，生於利穆魯一農民傢庭。一九六四年畢業於烏乾達馬赫雷雷大學，後入英國利茲大學續修文學。一九六七年迴國，在內羅畢大學任教，改英國文學係為非洲文學和語言係。一九七七年因抗議當局對英語的強製性教育而被政府逮捕，獲釋後與傢人過著流亡的生活，直到肯尼亞前總統阿拉普·莫伊下颱纔終於得以安全迴國。 他的作品還包括《孩子，你彆哭》《一粒麥種》《血染的花瓣》《十字架上的魔鬼》等。恩古吉現居美國，在紐約大學任教並繼續寫作。