The book is in three parts: a series of poems by Auden describing his and Isherwood's journey to China in 1938 ; a "Travel-Diary" by Isherwood (including material first drafted by Auden) about their travels in China itself, and their observations of the Sino-Japanese War; and "In Time of War: A Sonnet Sequence with a Verse Commentary" by Auden, with reflections on the contemporary world and their experiences in China.
The book is divided into three sections: a collection of poems by Auden detailing his and Isherwood's trip to China in 1938; a "Travel-Diary" by Isherwood, including material initially written by Auden, about their travels throughout China and their observations on the Sino-Japanese War; and "In Time of War: A Sonnet Sequence with an accompanying Verse Commentary" by Auden, featuring reflections on contemporary issues and their experiences in China.