The sudden outbreak of World War II forces a young American student to confront the disappearance of her lover and the fragility of their connection. Maude Latham, an American at Oxford, initiates a clandestine affair with her married literature tutor, Stephen Kendall, grounding their bond in the verses of Romantic poets. When the conflict escalates, Stephen enlists in the Royal Navy and vanishes, leaving Maude to navigate the physical and psychological toll of the war as a trauma nurse. The narrative follows her internal struggle as she reconciles her idealized view of their romance with the harsh realities of wartime separation and uncertainty.

Readers frequently highlight the atmospheric depiction of pre-war England and the subsequent shift into the grim reality of wartime medical service. Discussion often centers on the tension between the protagonists' intellectual connection and the external forces that threaten to dismantle their relationship. Critics note the pacing effectively mirrors the transition from the quiet intensity of academic life to the frantic, unpredictable nature of the war. The narrative is often praised for its focus on the endurance of personal faith amidst widespread societal collapse. Many readers appreciate how the author utilizes the backdrop of the conflict to test the depth of the characters' convictions.