Set in the politically charged atmosphere of Santiago, Chile, just before the 1973 coup, this novel by Antonio Skármeta tells the story of a young, apolitical football player. His primary focus is on his career and a budding romance, but he finds himself living in a boarding house with passionate artists and leftist activists. Through his interactions with his housemates and the escalating social turmoil around him, he is gradually drawn into the intense political reality of his country, forcing him to confront the intersection of personal dreams and national destiny.