<p>The novel plays out in three historic frames: 1919 Bavaria, Germany; Second World War France; France in 1960.</p><p>We meet the main character, Yann, in 1960. He is a semi-retired French journalist, professor, and Camus scholar who is plagued by a lifetime of regrets. He finds hope in an unforeseen friendship with Klaus, the only son of Karl, a German soldier who saved Yann's life in 1919. Klaus is a depressed young man burdened by history and challenged by the stories that he encourages Yann to revisit and to share.</p><p>These fateful events took place during World War II when Yann again met Karl and also Madeleine, a French engineer and Resistance fighter who attempts to recruit Yann to join the Resistance. Yann's hesitation eventually leads to Madeleine's death, and this will haunt Yann ever after.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>