[1] An Evening of Long Goodbyes is about a 24-year-old wealthy layabout who prefers to watch Gene Tierney movies in his chaise longue, with a gimlet in hand, rather than go out and find a job.

Charles Hythloday is a Trinity College dropout living with his sister, Christabel ("Bel"), in their parents' mansion, Amaurot (named after the capital city of More's Utopia).

Charles devises a plan to blow up the folly, fake his death, use the insurance money to save Amaurot and move to South America.

He dreams of living in Chile with W. B. Yeats, where they spend their time perfecting sprezzatura, drinking gimlets, wearing sombreros, and tending the vineyard.

Charles is shocked to learn that Bel is planning a trip to Chekhov's home town in Russia to study The Cherry Orchard, her favorite play.

Stephen Amidon in The New York Times said that Murray "writes with the cunning and confidence of a seasoned pro", and that "the novel achieves an unexpected poignancy".