Two young men embark on a clandestine mission to reclaim their deceased friend's body from a city mortuary to ensure a proper burial in his rural homeland. Driven by a desire to honor their friend's connection to the land, the protagonists navigate the stark divide between urban bureaucracy and the rugged Australian interior. The narrative unfolds through a sequence of sonnets, utilizing the rigid structure of the form to contrast with the chaotic, emotional weight of the theft and the subsequent road trip. This verse novel captures the tension between modern societal expectations and the deep-seated cultural traditions of rural Australia.

This work is widely regarded as a significant contribution to Australian poetry, noted for its ambitious fusion of the traditional sonnet form with a contemporary narrative arc. Critics often highlight the technical precision Murray employs to elevate a seemingly simple plot into a meditation on national identity and the sanctity of the dead. The verse novel structure allows for a compressed, intense exploration of the characters' motivations that prose might otherwise dilute. Readers frequently observe that the poem's strength lies in its ability to ground profound philosophical questions within the gritty, specific reality of the Australian bush. The sequence remains a touchstone for those interested in the evolution of the verse novel as a vehicle for sustained storytelling.