A sprawling saga of the collapse of a culture, its economy and government and the common man's struggle to survive it all. Set in Weimer Germany soon after their defeat in WWI, a young gambler looses it all in Berlin and flees the city for the countryside. However, he is greeted by a defeated German army that has camped there to foment insurrection. Somehow, amidst all the chaos, he finds romance. This fast-moving thriller is also a fascinating piece of history, written in lyrical prose that carries a powerful emotional punch.