Soseki narrates the encounters and clashes of conflicted characters with a skill reserved only for masters of prose. Starting with the initial suspense created by a mysterious "man without a hat," Soseki blends moments of the monotonous present with glimpses of lost childhood to paint the protagonist's portrait: a pessimistic, somber, and anguished self-portrait.

Unanimously considered his most autobiographical work, it tells the story of Kenzo, an alter ego of Soseki himself, with whom he shares pivotal life events and psychological characteristics: the unwanted son of his biological parents, later adopted only to be rejected by his adoptive parents; a dedicated English teacher who returns after a stay abroad; a taciturn, sullen, and selfish husband.