Yates's biographical novel is based on a framework of factual information about Amos Fortune and eighteenthcentury New England that she pieced together through diligent research. Her efforts led to the rediscovery of Fortune's papers, which had been lost. She reprints several of these documents in the text of her novel. The inclusion of these items lends authenticity and a flavor of Amos's times to the work.

In style and narrative technique, Yates acknowledges the influence of the Bible, British poet William Blake, and British novelist George Eliot. Yates's meticulous research allows her to portray the various physical settings in the kind of vivid descriptive detail used by Blake and Eliot. She also captures the atmosphere of each setting in lyrical language.

In particular, the portrayals of the Atmun-shi village, Amos's capture, and his night of meditation on Monadnock Mountain incorporate rich language that approaches poetry.

The...