It is set in the United States and follows four men who graduate from Columbia University in 1909, and decide to each become the world champion in his respective discipline.

[1] Virgilia Peterson Ross of The Outlook reviewed the book: "Insufiiciently appeased in his lust to express himself about America by the book on New York, M. Morand now tells a tale, part truth, you suspect, and largely fancy, of the four men he knew best, when, in 1909, he came over to teach French at Columbia.

Through the dramatic outlets chosen by these men for their energy and through the women who, save one, loom up to block their hopes, M. Morand maintains his story at a pitch of tensity.

Through their characters, boxed and labeled to fit a type, he snares his opportunity to generalize ad libidum about Americana, from sexual habits to the uses and abuses of justice.

"[2] The critic continued: "He has a flair for acerbity, for bursting the bubbles of bombast, for trenchant ridicule.