England, late 90s. Two brothers, Alec and Larry, meet at their mother's house, which they have not visited for many years. The first is a writer and translator, the second is an athlete and film actor. The shadow of the past overshadows their complex relationship. The action of the novel moves from country to country, from era to era, from person to person. One of the finest stylists of our time, Andrew Miller masterfully combines layers of history in his novel, shining an X-ray of the past into the dark sides of the present. The novel was deservedly included in the shortlist for the award Booker 2001