It explores the British class divide and themes such as wife swapping.

The book sold well, although Thomas' later work never matched the success of his first novel, The Virgin Soldiers, published in 1966.

In the book a railway line marks a physical and social divide between a council estate and middle class housing, mirroring to some extent the real-life division between Carpenders Park and South Oxhey.

Other locations in the book include Watford, where the male protagonist Andrew is employed by a local newspaper.

It was adapted for television in 1979 as "Tropic" with a cast including Ronald Pickup.