Ten year old Argestes Leskovich arrives in America in 1888 and immigration officials list his name as Argustus Lesko. He immediately begins working in a coal mine as a water carrier. The story follows his marriage and family through WWI until WWII. The family timeline is parallel to the historical timeline of America. The story culminates with the birth of Eddie Lesko, a bastard according to the laws of Pennsylvania. When Eddie is ten years old he must learn to survive in a hostile environment, just as his grandfather did forty years ago. This true story contains several scenes of sex and violence.