Major Brendan Archer travels to Ireland, to the Majestic Hotel and the fiancee he acquired on a rash afternoon's leave three years ago. So hypnotic are the faded charms of the Majestic, that the Major passes the summer there, almost unaware of the gathering storm in the Ireland of 1919.

Singapore, 1939: life on the eve of World War II just isn't what it used to be for Walter Blackett, head of British Singapore's oldest and most powerful firm. No matter how forcefully the police break one strike, the natives go on strike somewhere else. His daughter keeps entangling herself with the most unsuitable beaus, while her intended match, the son of Blackett's partner, is an idealistic sympathizer with the League of Nations and a vegetarian....