The Pool in the Desert

The Pool in the Desert, published in 1903 by Sara Jeannette Duncan, is a collection of four stories set in British India that examines the lives of women navigating societal expectations and isolation within colonial military communities. The titular story, along with 'A Mother in India,' 'An Impossible Ideal,' and 'The Hesitation of Miss Anderson,' highlights the complexities of familial relationships, particularly the emotional distance between mothers and daughters. Duncan's work is notable for its nuanced portrayal of women's freedoms and constraints in a Victorian context, drawing comparisons to the styles of Henry James and Stephen Leacock.