The sudden, volatile marriage between a young artist's daughter and an ambitious art dealer sets off a chain of events that leads to the tragic loss of their child. Helen Lally and Clifford Wexford navigate the excesses of the 1960s, moving from a whirlwind romance to a bitter divorce fueled by greed and external manipulation. The narrative follows their individual paths as they grapple with the consequences of their choices and the eventual, arduous process of seeking redemption. The story is presented through a distinct, omniscient narrative voice that frequently comments on the moral failings of the characters and the nature of the world they inhabit.

This novel is characterized by its biting wit and its deliberate construction as a modern fable for adults. The narrative style suggests a cynical yet ultimately hopeful outlook on human nature, where the characters' moral growth is measured against their past failures. The text leans heavily into the satire of the swinging sixties, using the era's excess to mirror the internal greed of the protagonists. It functions as an analytical look at the consequences of vanity, suggesting that true maturity is only achieved when one learns to value others over personal gain.