It largely consists of the description of a period in the later life of the main character, ageing London author Bradley Pearson, during which time he falls in love with the daughter of a friend and literary rival, Arnold Baffin. For years Bradley has had a tense but strong relationship with Arnold, regarding himself as having 'discovered' the younger writer. The tension is ostensibly over Bradley's distaste for Arnold's lack of proper literary credentials, though later the other characters claim this to be a matter of jealousy or the product of an Oedipus complex.
The narrative focuses on the complex relationship between Bradley Pearson, an aging author, and Arnold Baffin's daughter, highlighting their romantic connection amidst a backdrop of professional rivalry and personal complexities.