An elderly woman lives alone in her house in the Estonian countryside. The country gained its independence a year ago and the restructuring of the system is underway. The daily routine of the elderly woman is interrupted by a twenty-year-old girl, Zara, a victim of the white flesh trade, who is found unconscious in her yard. When she regains consciousness, Zara explains to her that she ended up there in her attempt to escape from her violent husband. This encounter brings back memories for Aliide of her tragic love in her youth and her desperate choices, which are closely linked to her own fate.

Through the story of these two women, Oksanen reveals in a stunning way how historical changes affect not only the evolution of a nation but also the personal choices of the people who make it up.

A gripping novel with a timely theme, written with powerful, cinematic writing.