A rich tapestry of history and the present. Essentially, it parallels the life of the author, an emigre to Sydney, and the life of a historical figure, Antonio da Nova, the servant of a portuguese explorer who, in the 1600s sends him to find out more about Luca Antara (now Australia). The lives of the two men, the strange customs and unique social mores of each man’s culture and time intertwine throughout. It ends with Edmond literally walking in the footsteps of da Nova across northern Australia.