Set against the backdrop of the looming Second World War in Paris, the narrative follows a German refugee and surgeon who is living without proper documents after escaping from Nazi Germany. Haunted by his past and the horrors he has witnessed, he navigates the dark streets of Paris, performing surgeries in a clandestine practice for other displaced immigrants. Amidst his struggle for survival and identity, he engages in a passionate but tumultuous love affair with an Italian woman, which brings temporary solace but ultimately leads to greater despair. The story is a poignant exploration of exile, loss, and the human desire for connection and meaning in the face of relentless adversity.

The 1790th greatest book of all time