When Frank Reid returns home to find his wife has abandoned their family, he is forced to navigate the complexities of life in pre-revolutionary Moscow while managing his household alone. Frank, an English printer living in Russia, must secure care for his three young children while grappling with the sudden absence of his spouse. His life becomes increasingly entangled with the enigmatic Lisa Ivanovna, a woman whose simplicity masks deeper motivations. The narrative, presented with a detached and precise tone, explores the intersection of personal domestic upheaval and the broader, shifting political climate of 1913 Russia.

This novel is widely regarded for its masterful economy of language and its ability to capture the specific, unsettling atmosphere of a society on the brink of collapse. Critics often highlight the author's skill in presenting complex human relationships through seemingly simple, everyday interactions. The work is frequently praised for its refusal to provide easy answers, leaving the reader to interpret the motivations of its enigmatic cast. It remains a significant example of historical fiction that prioritizes psychological nuance over grand historical spectacle.