Set in the 19th century, the novel follows the roller-coaster fortunes of a man as he tries to negotiate the random stages, adventures and vicissitudes of his life. He is variously a soldier, a farmer, a pawnbroker, a jailbird, a writer, a gigolo - and many other manifestations - and finally, a minor diplomat, based in Trieste (then in Austria-Hungary) where he sees out the end of his days. From the author of 'Any Human Heart' and 'Trio'.