In December of 1967, David Corrin dropped out of his Manhattan college after refusing to take his Italian Literature’s ‘Dante’ exam. A month later, he is living in a tiny Paris hotel across the street from the Sorbonne University, together with expat actors, musicians, artists and writers.

Like David’s literary hero, F. Scott Fitzgerald, issues of sex, religion, politics, art and identity haunt him as he becomes involved with Aline Validot, a student actress and advocate of a feminine mysticism. While he explores the historic neighborhoods of Paris, David learns that the medieval poet, Dante Alighieri, had once lived and studied at the Sorbonne.

During David’s explorations, he also learns that his new friend, Bethel Green, an Afro-American ex-GI, is tracking down a lost Renaissance painting believed to be a stolen Nazi art object, once in the possession of the notorious Madam Nemonine, who is looking for it as well.

Tumultuous events unfold while David faces his ‘Dante’ phobia and the Sorbonne students pursue a month of violent street protests against the autocratic rule of President De Gaulle that nearly brings down the French government. Finding himself and Aline at the center of this storm, David struggles to hold on to a future for himself with Aline.