Lili and the Colonel begins with a vivid portrayal of colonial life in British Africa, where the threat of the Mau Mau uprising looms large. Colonel M.O.V. Abernathy, a figure of authority, is introduced amidst the backdrop of the Rift Valley Club, a bastion of colonial elitism. The narrative quickly establishes the tension between the colonizers and the indigenous population, as well as the Colonel's personal struggles, particularly in his marriage to Lili, who appears to be a shadow of her former self, burdened by the weight of her husband's expectations and the oppressive atmosphere of their surroundings.