Banked Fires

"Banked Fires" by E. W. Savi is an early 20th-century novel situated in British India that examines the tangled lives of a young British couple as they adjust to the trials of colonial living. Meredith Sahib, a magistrate, and his wife Joyce confront their roles amidst cultural intricacies, family obligations, and personal battles, specifically surrounding their baby's health. The story opens with the Merediths setting up camp in Bengal, filled with tension as Meredith manages his official tasks alongside his family duties, while Joyce copes with their child's sickness. The narrative highlights their marital relationship, focusing on Joyce's difficulties with the strange environment and her utopian views of motherhood. This setup foreshadows the challenges ahead for the pair, and introduces the theme of gender roles and marital sacrifices during the colonial era, drawing readers to reflect on the far-reaching implications of their lives.