Hernán Díaz's debut novel is a moving and profound story about loneliness, otherness and the search for one's own soul. Its main character, Gokan, a young immigrant from Sweden, finds himself in California and embarks on a journey with the intention of crossing the continent on foot to find his accidentally lost brother. Thus begins his journey that will last a lifetime. On the way, he will meet naturalists, criminals, religious fanatics, Indians - colorful characters of America during the gold rush.