The story takes place in Buenos Aires in the 1920s, and follows a vanguard writer who goes through a metaphysical struggle during three days.

The book is a humorous account of the Martinfierristas movement, which was prominent in Argentine literature in the 1920s.

[1] Julio Cortázar hailed the novel as a major literary event, but otherwise it received limited attention upon the immediate publication.

Pedro Orgambide has suggested that this might have been due to Marechal's support for Juan Perón, which was controversial at the time.

It has since gained status as one of Argentina's most prominent novels.