An aging patriarch's desire for a peaceful retirement clashes with his family's chaotic lives and his own domineering nature. William, the narrator and long-suffering son, is constantly subjected to his father's jokes and his brothers' indifference. The father, a retired Civil Service employee, craves respect and the indulgence of his passions, but his family struggles with death, divorce, and other dramas. Despite the discord, a peculiar harmony begins to form between father and son as they navigate these turbulent times.

This novel has garnered significant acclaim, including the McKitterick Prize for best first novel by an author over 40 and the Hawthornden Prize for imaginative literature. Alan Bennett has lauded it as his 'favourite novel and one I wish I’d written.' The reception highlights its skillful blend of humor and poignant family drama, focusing on the complex relationship between an aging, domineering father and his long-suffering son. Readers and critics alike have noted its insightful portrayal of familial discord and the eventual, unexpected harmony that can emerge from shared hardship.