In this poignant masterpiece, Emmanuel Bove introduces us to Victor Bâton, a wounded World War I veteran living a solitary existence in post-war Paris. Driven by an intense and desperate need for human connection, Victor wanders the city streets, pathetically attempting to forge friendships with strangers and acquaintances. His efforts are consistently met with misunderstanding, indifference, or rejection, highlighting his profound social alienation. Bove's spare, precise prose captures the quiet tragedy and subtle comedy of a man's desperate search for companionship in a world that seems to have no place for him, creating a timeless and deeply moving character study.