A collection of fifteen short stories depicts the lives of middle-class citizens in Dublin, capturing the paralysis and frustration of the city at the turn of the century. From childhood to maturity, the characters face moments of "epiphany" where the mundane reality of their lives is suddenly illuminated. The prose is realistic and precise, offering an unflinching look at the stagnation of Irish society. It is a masterful study of human nature, disappointment, and the quiet tragedies of everyday life.