The book describes an evident lifestyle by some Italian politicians whose job is to work closely to the Prime Minister rather then really working for the sake of citizens, but, one of the things that the author writes about these people is that they don't realize how miserable their life can be, when they have to spend all their life for the sake of a self-centre man which he has no respect for the job of others. Here the book describes the Marcello's life and work, who has spent almost all his life working close and always living and working behind his shadow. .. At the end he has realized that dedicating and spending all his life and energies it does not worth all what he has done.