Benjamin Hopkins is an ambitious clerk in the Spencer Shipping (trading company). Sibylla Spencer is approaching an age where marriage is her only option to escape her upper middle class English life. Set in the 19th century. Benjamin and Sibylla marry and he becomes the agent for the company in Morocco. While Sibylla embraces the new experiences and culture, Benjamin does not. I loved the location descriptions - the trade routes, food, markets, housing and culture. I will say that some of the plot twists were very obvious. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book - right down to the ending.