The mini-series was produced in-house shortly before tax concessions gave a boost to television drama budgets, benefiting mini-series like All the Rivers Run (1983), Bodyline (1984) and A Fortunate Life (1985).

His experiences temporarily jolt him out of his rather indulgent life of art and self-pity, forcing him to confront the rest of humanity.The breakup of that affair is the most vital part of the book; from then on it peters out in a telescoping of the story of young Stephen, through a poignant bit at Cambridge, on to World War II, pacifism- and death.

A leisurely book, somewhat old-fashioned in its rhythm, tracing three generations of an Anglo-Australian family. She sits alone in the small enclave of culture and tradition, rapt with the richness that so unexpectedly holds out against the gloom. Lucinda spurns the love of a distinguished family friend, Tony Duff, to marry the dashing aide-de-camp to the Governor, Hugo Brayford.Given the opportunity, Lucinda cultivates her own budding romance with Pat, Hugo’s close friend, who has remained in England. Boyd was an expatriate novelist, memoirist, and poet who spent most of his life after World War One in Europe, primarily Britain. He takes to prolonged hunting excursions and business trips, which Lucinda later discovers to be pretexts for assignations with an old love.