It is 1954, but not the same way the history books would have it. Events and characters swirl in a vortex of fragments and chance connections. Brisbane celebrates the young Queen Elizabeth II's arrival on her first royal tour of the Commonwealth. Meanwhile the future is being shaped behind closed doors, laying the foundations for the 21st century. A magisterial historical novel resonant with contemporary concerns, by one of Australia's foremost authors writing at the height of his ambition.