How does a long-term expatriate reconcile his personal identity with the evolving cultural and political landscape of his home country?

Mordecai Richler, a prominent Canadian novelist, utilizes his return to Canada after two decades abroad to examine the nation's shifting identity. Through a series of observational essays, he evaluates the social, political, and cultural markers that define the Canadian experience, contrasting his memories with the reality of the country he encounters upon his return.

Critics often note the sharp, satirical tone that characterizes Richler's observations on Canadian life. Readers frequently highlight the text as a significant piece of personal journalism that captures the specific cultural climate of the era in which it was written.