Garnet Bowen, a struggling writer and weary family man, accepts a commission to travel to Portugal, only to find his expectations of escape thwarted by a series of increasingly absurd cultural and personal entanglements. Bowen attempts to navigate the complexities of his professional assignment while managing the domestic pressures of his life in London. The narrative follows his movement from the familiar, if stifling, environment of Britain to the foreign landscape of Portugal, where his logical approach to life is constantly challenged by the irrationality of his surroundings. The story is presented through a third-person perspective that emphasizes the protagonist's growing disillusionment with his own pretensions and the world at large.

Readers and critics frequently note the sharp, cynical wit that defines the narrative voice throughout the text. Discussion often centers on how the book functions as a companion piece to the author's earlier work, Lucky Jim, while offering a more mature, if equally biting, look at the life of a professional writer. Many highlight the effectiveness of the protagonist's internal monologue in exposing the absurdity of his social and professional environment. The pacing is often described as deliberate, favoring character-driven humor over rapid plot progression. Ultimately, the work is recognized for its ability to balance comedic situations with a deeper, more somber reflection on the limitations of the human experience.