'[...]McKie's portrait of Mrs. T. J. is animated by an interest in women's inner lives seen also in The Mango Tree. [...]in a turnaround of Tarom's belated discovery of Colonel Wade's false military pretenses, the end of The Crushing affirms the warrior identity as Mrs. T. J.'s essence. [...]the deepest truth of Mrs. T. J.'s fancy dress is that despite, or even because of, her absurdities, she is Tarom's queen.' (Publication abstract)