A reclusive widower living in the remnants of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy finds his stagnant existence disrupted by the arrival of an inquisitive village boy. Mr. Prendergast, burdened by the weight of his family history and the loss of his wife and daughter, attempts to maintain his isolation within his decaying mansion in County Wicklow. The arrival of Diarmid, a young boy fascinated by the house's past, forces Prendergast to confront the ghosts of his childhood and the societal shifts that have rendered his lifestyle obsolete. The narrative moves between the quiet, melancholic present of the 1970s and the formative memories of Prendergast’s youth, creating a layered examination of memory and social change.

This novel is widely regarded for its delicate handling of themes related to social decline and individual isolation. Critics often highlight the author's ability to evoke a sense of place and time through sparse, precise prose. The relationship between the aging protagonist and the young boy serves as a focal point for discussions regarding the bridge between different eras of Irish history. The work is frequently cited as a poignant example of the author's skill in capturing the quiet tragedies of domestic life. The narrative's restraint ensures that the emotional weight of the story remains grounded in the characters' internal experiences.