These disparate short stories form a cohesive whole in the lives and tales of a starving artist, a war correspondent, a shelter survivor and other vivid characters. Their struggles and at times inept counsel lead to a resolve that surpasses the reader with redeemed prophecy like life itself; the examples of the underclass narrate the troubling complexities of class and hypocrisy. With humour and dignity, the lesser self is elevated to a higher truth and a greater communal understanding.