Heat and Dust Study Guide

The narrator introduces herself as the granddaughter of Tessie—whom she remembers quite well—and Douglas—whom she hardly remembers at all. While they had lived in India, neither Tessie nor her sister Beth would speak of Olivia, Douglas' first wife. In time both women had returned to England and been widowed. It was then, after they were all quite old, that Harry, who had been in touch with Marcia, gave them Olivia's letters. That is how the narrator came to have them. She had brought them with her to India and kept a journal to record her impressions. (read more)