As the nineteenth century draws to a close, a preacher's son decides to abandon his father's rigid expectations to embrace a life of hedonistic adventure before the predicted apocalypse. Robbie Hewitt struggles against the stifling social constraints of his small Vermont town, where his father's position demands a level of piety he finds impossible to maintain. Driven by the fear that the world will end at the turn of the century, he pursues a series of reckless escapades that challenge the town's moral order. The narrative follows his internal conflict as he balances his desire for autonomy with the consequences his actions impose on his family's reputation. The story is told through a third-person perspective that captures the specific cultural anxieties of 1899.

Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to capture the specific atmosphere of late 19th-century American life. Discussion often centers on the protagonist's growth as he navigates the tension between his personal desires and his family's standing in the community. Critics note the balance between the lighthearted nature of Robbie's escapades and the more serious underlying questions about faith and responsibility. The narrative is often praised for its authentic voice and the effective way it portrays the universal experience of testing boundaries during adolescence.