Following a failed suicide attempt, an unsuccessful actor named Peter Smart chronicles his life and the eccentric figures that have shaped his disillusionment. Peter attempts to reconcile his professional failures with the overwhelming presence of his mother, a woman described as a comic monster, and his mentor, the lecherous retired doctor F. Leonard Cottle. The narrative functions as a confessional, navigating the absurdity of his domestic life and the pretension of the theatrical world. Through a series of biting observations, Peter confronts the forces of mediocrity and eccentricity that define his existence.

The narrative style suggests a work deeply rooted in the tradition of British satirical fiction, focusing on the absurdity of the human condition through a lens of cynical humor. The premise indicates that the book relies on the strength of its character archetypes, particularly the larger-than-life figures of the mother and the retired doctor, to drive the comedic tension. Readers likely encounter a prose style that is both self-deprecating and sharp, mirroring the protagonist's own struggle to find meaning in his failed career. The focus on theatrical parody points to a text that rewards those familiar with the conventions of the stage and the pretenses of the literary establishment.