This novel nearly cost Chatwin his life: in 1977, he traveled to the People's Republic of Benin to research the slave trader Francisco Felix de Souza. When he attempted to leave the country, he became caught up in a coup and was arrested. After his fortunate release, Chatwin left West Africa and never returned. With the skeleton of the story and a series of vivid impressions, he wrote a work of imagination, while still orienting himself to the historical events; in some cases, Chatwin merely changed the names of the characters. The result is the cruel and fantastical tale of the notorious Brazilian slave trader Francisco da Silva, who gains the trust of the king and rises to the position of viceroy. In vibrant imagery, Chatwin tells a parable of power and desire, of greed, luxury, and delusion.