According to blogger/reviewer Moira Redmond, "This is famously a book where nothing happens."

Birkin, a young war veteran arrives at a small country church to restore a recently-discovered 14th century wall painting. He suffers from shell-shock from his time in the trenches of WWI, and this had caused him to reject some societal norms and be regarded with suspicion by the conventional.

The experience for Birkin is one of regret and of healing, as he makes friends in the village and completes his task. He departs, with sorrow but also a measure of confidence that he can now go on with his life.