It details the thoughts and pursuits of the people involved in a reality show recreating a concentration camp.

Nothomb was subsequently invited to explain herself on a TV show hosted by her friend Frédéric Beigbeder.

For a TV reality show called Concentration, prisoner-participants are chosen at random from the population and abducted in raids.

The living conditions in the camp are deplorable: the prisoners are ill-nourished, insulted, and beaten by the guards (called "Kapos").

Zdeno, one of the guards, falls in love with Pannonique, the heroine of the book and a prisoner known in the camp by her identity number CKZ 114.