Pontypridd 1930 - At eighteen Edyth is the 'plain, intelligent' one of Harry and Sali Evans's five daughters Until a chance meeting with handsome curate Peter Slater throws her life into turmoil Head over heels in love, she sacrifices her own ambitions of a college education and career, and defies her parents' opposition so she can help Peter realise his dream of running his own parish The church sends Peter to Butetown, a multi-racial dockland area of Cardiff, commonly known as Tiger Bay There Edyth and Peter encounter rich cultures from all corners of the world that flourish even in the depression ridden conditions of desperate poverty And there Edyth discovers why her parents were so opposed to her marriage