From Cinderella to Mata Hari, Stella, like her mother, breaks out of the mould cast for her by polite, colonial society.
After a civil war in the fictional state of Mozepwe, Stella wonders what has happened to her beloved country. She finds herself living an African ‘Gone with the Wind’ adventure. Since her husband ran off, with illicit diamonds stuffed inside the regimental tart, she has to support numerous dependants by sewing and cooking for the winning side.
Against a background of unrest and inflation, the new regime clashes with colonial diehards. The stories of three families interlink ; her intrepid parents, her strange in-laws and the eight offspring of Moses, the family retainer. Like Scarlett O’Hara, Stella has a weakness for men and the divine Dan lightens her mood.
Her blood brother, Ephraim, bids to topple the corrupt new Premier and needs Stella to spy for him, bringing her into conflict with the secret police. Dan mysteriously disappears and Stella is involved with escaping mercenaries. Her mother was the adventurer, not her. By now she is on the wanted list and must flee to England, where further dramas unfold. Her life has all gone wrong … or has it? Will Dan keep Stella or will the Colonel win her back? Like Scarlett she says, “I can think about that tomorrow”.