A prank by university students enjoying a night out in a pub upsets a powerful individual from abroad and damages his prospects for academic recognition. The incident ignites a bizarre plot that entangles many local personalities in a web of conspiracy, murder and drug crime. This captivating novel is set at a time of momentous transition in Oxford, as the old regime of learning in the late 1970's gives way to the new. How much damage will be done to the rich and timeless tapestry of college life in the city as the story reaches its spectacular climax?