In the stagnancy of mid-1950s Rathmoye, the arrival of Florian Kilderry to photograph a local funeral stirs the small Irish town, especially Ellie Dillihan, a young woman in a subdued marriage with an older farmer. As Ellie's quiet life intersects with Florian's intent to flee Ireland, their unexpected connection sparks a tempest of emotions. William Trevor weaves the tales of Rathmoye's inhabitants with delicate precision, capturing the intensity of Ellie and Florian's affair and the turmoil it brings against the backdrop of a languid summer.