At the age of fifteen, shattered by the sudden death of his girlfriend Grace, Charles Bentchley flees his Connecticut home and takes to the road. He finds refuge with the Magnificent Rudy, a traveling magician who for the next seven years teaches Charles the tricks of his trade. But with Rudy's death Charles has no place to go but home. As he confronts his loss of Grace and his brother's role in it, he must come to grips not only with his brother's betrayal, but with his own mistakes and guilt, finding his way beyond loss and anger toward new love and redemption. In this lucid, concise, and beautiful penetration of character, D. K. Smith has written a synthesis of narrative and idea that never ceases to be a superior entertainment as well.