It is based on an Anglo-Egyptian character, Issum, who has his parents' inheritance stolen by his Egyptian uncle and sister at different times and in different countries.
He feels no patriotism to either society yet is torn emotionally between the two cultures. Eventually at the age of forty, he becomes a professional teacher and marries an older alcoholic woman, out of compassion. He believes he can help cure her from her addiction and help her reach her true potential in life, by supplying her with the opportunities to do so.
After three years of torment, anguish and disappointment he realises there is no hope, when she ....................
He moves to Vietnam to continue working in his profession, to find that the country helps him to achieve one of his lifelong ambitions; falconry and breeding a variety of exotic birds.
He becomes involved with another older woman who has herpes and has to deal with the STD without contracting it. Eventually they part, due to personality and cultural differences.
He meets the woman of his dreams, Ismahine, who also is torn between the Middle Eastern and Western cultures. They have both had similar experiences in their upbringing, both dealt with alcoholic partners, emotional conflicts between the two cultures, and a genuine disappointment and disillusionment at how America and Britain deal with the Arabs and Islam.
Ismahine leaves Vietnam to become an Algerian diplomat. Issum proposes to her, before she leaves and they arrange to meet up in June the following year, both full of hope for their future together.
Issum's personnel and welfare officer, who is an arrogant, racist, condescending, sarcastic and egotistical British man, Keelie-Keech, makes his professional life unbearable through humiliation tactics and constant haranguing. Issum's anger reaches a murderous level. Realising Keelie-Keech represents everything he despises in the British society, he decides to leave the company.
