Life is pretty straightforward for Martin Sproale. For forty-eight weeks a year for the last sixteen years, he has cycled to his job as assistant post master. In the evening he cycles home again. And every Thursday he goes for a drink with the sturdy Elaine. In fact, the only thing that's exceptional about Martin is his obsession with Ernest Hemingway.
But when Nick Marshall arrives with privatisation plans, Martin's life is turned upside down. And battling against the ruthless modernisers, he plans the ultimate Hemingwayesque act of revenge . . .