[1] Cronin described the book as "a complete dissection of a supreme egoist - a well-intentioned man who, through psychological and sociological influences, develops into a weak and self-indulgent heel who brings disaster on three different women and is himself destroyed by the fourth.

"[2] The book begins with the story of David Moray, his early career as an ambitious young doctor away on business.

Early on in the story he is introduced to successful people and is invited to accompany a prominent family on their ship as their personal physician.

He learns that Mary has died and instead encounters her young, penniless daughter, Kathy, who is involved in mission work.

Kathy was betrayed more by David's cynicism, doubt and lack of courage than by the ambition that detoured him years earlier, although that is still evidently present in his choosing a countess for social advantages.

The 1975 Hindi film, Mausam, directed by Gulzar and starring Sharmila Tagore and Sanjeev Kumar, is loosely based on Cronin's novel.