In the summer of 1914, John Campton, divorced American painter who lives in Paris, is expecting the arrival of his son George and plans to spend a month traveling with him. However, the war breaks out in Europe and they must cancel their vacation, but the bigger problem for them is that George can be enlisted in the army, since he was born in France. John and his ex wife, as well as her second husband, try to pull some strings to keep their son away from the battle, but George enlists, leaving his parents in agony of expectation.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer. She became known for her psychological examination of characters faced with changes in the moral and social values of middle-class and upper-class society. Her novels and short stories provide numerous expert characterizations of complex men and women.