Vida Asch, a woman living in hiding for nearly a decade, must navigate the precarious reality of her existence as a former radical activist. Vida operates within the constraints of a clandestine life, constantly shifting identities and locations to evade authorities. Her objective is to maintain her autonomy and personal connections while the political fervor of the 1960s fades into a more cynical era. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person perspective to examine the psychological toll of living underground and the disintegration of the revolutionary movements she once championed. She faces opposition from both the external threat of law enforcement and the internal erosion of her own ideological convictions.

Readers and critics frequently identify this work as a definitive examination of the post-sixties political landscape. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to balance the internal life of the protagonist with the broader historical context of radical movements. Many highlight the stark portrayal of the isolation inherent in underground life, noting that the narrative avoids romanticizing the revolutionary experience. The pacing is often described as deliberate, favoring character development and ideological reflection over high-stakes action sequences. This book remains a significant point of reference for those interested in the intersection of personal identity and political commitment.