A writer returns to Mexico to confront the ghosts of his past and the disintegration of his own creative spirit. Sigbjørn Wilderness, a novelist struggling with alcoholism and the weight of his previous work, travels to Mexico with his wife to locate a friend who has disappeared. As he navigates the landscape of his memories and the physical reality of the Mexican terrain, he finds his identity blurring with the characters he has created. The narrative framework operates as a complex blend of autobiography and fiction, reflecting the protagonist's fractured perception of reality and his inability to distinguish between life and art.

Readers and critics often observe that the work functions as a dense, introspective examination of the creative struggle. Discussion frequently centers on the blurred lines between Malcolm Lowry’s own life and the experiences of his protagonist, Sigbjørn Wilderness. The pacing is noted for being deliberate and reflective, prioritizing psychological depth over traditional plot progression. Many highlight the atmospheric quality of the prose, which effectively captures a sense of disorientation and existential unease. The book is frequently studied for its structural complexity and its candid portrayal of addiction.