The novel follows the life of Teddy Todd, a British RAF bomber pilot during World War II. After surviving the war, he tries to build a peaceful life with his wife Nancy and their daughter Viola, but he remains deeply affected by his wartime experiences.
The story moves between different periods of his life—childhood, war years, and old age—showing how the past continues to shape his present and his family relationships.
The novel explores themes of time, memory, war, aging, and the fragility of human lives and choices.