In this novel, Mr. Stratton wants very much to set down his thoughts and experiences of life. He wants to do so now that he has come to middle age and now that his attitudes are all defined and his personal drama worked out. He feels that the toil of writing and reconsideration may help to clear and fix many things that remain a little uncertain in his thoughts because they have never been fully stated, and he wants to discover any lurking inconsistencies and unsuspected gaps.