Kurt Stocker's Swiss childhoodis dominated by strict and god-fearing parents. He enters a seminary with theintent of becoming a priest and making his parents proud of him, but strugglesto adapt. Leaving this vocation behind, he marries Liesl and they eventuallyemigrate to Australia.

Decades later in small town Australia, Terry Riley feels drawn toconvent life, despite her parent's objections. At the convent she is hauntedby a strange sickness and knows in timethat she must return to a moreconventional life. It is then she begins a relationship with the now divorcedKurt, who was once her high school teacher.

This is the story of an oddcouple, of an older man and a younger woman in love with one another, but sodamaged by their past lives that even a regular sexual relationship seemsimpossible. Beautiful in its frankness but disturbing in its examination offaith and human existence, this is a novel that is affectionate, haunting andultimately unforgettable.