This book is an interesting exploration of free birth, in that a woman believes to be truely free of the yoke of a man he must take her on her own terms. This means without marriage (considered by her a form of slavery) and with a commitment to love each other without the trappings of a union. Hermaini finds in Alan such a mate and they devote each to the other to live free, together. Together they conceive a child and just before it is born Alan dies of typhoid, putting all their dreams of a free life in jeopardy. Hermaini now devotes her life to bringing her daughter up with similar beliefs. It is unfortunate that the world and ultimately her daughter believes the bond of marriage to be the true union between a man and woman, and as she will not repent her "wicked ways" tragedy ensues. An interesting book that sets out the reasons for living free, although it is the world itself that holds her back which she realises late in the day, although she stays true to her beliefs til the very end.