A stunningly imaginative novel of deception and imposture set during the Second World War. War is a time when the choices of men determine the fate of nations. After winning a bronze in the coxless pairs at the Berlin Olympics, twin brothers return to England arguing bitterly over the coming Second World War. Going their separate ways Jack becomes a pilot, Joe a pacifist working for the Red Cross. As their stories play out, possibilities, parallels and confusion surround them, with each brother finding himself an ordinary man party to momentous events. With damaged memories and personal prejudices, Joe and Jack's stories exemplify the vacuum of uncertainty in which we live, challenging the reader to confront the consequences that the choices we make have on our lives.