In the spring of 1914, German photographer August Sander captures a haunting image- three young men on their way to a country dance, themselves unknowingly on the brink of the First World War. This photograph becomes the focal point of Richard Powers' compelling debut novel.

The fate of the three farmers is intertwined with two contemporary stories- a museum-goer becomes obsessed with the photograph, and a young writer in Boston discovers he has a personal connection to it. Seamlessly blended together, these three narratives depict a century scarred by savagery and fired by progress.