An episode in the doings of the dualized

The novel opens with the vibrant, if modest, world of the Daksha family, whose lineage threads together English, German, Spanish and Irish roots. In the bustling town of Brookline, late‑nineteenth‑century America, patriarch Mr. Daksha is a dreamer devoted to lofty ideas about society while his household lives on a frugal diet of oatmeal and cherished books. Their spirited daughter Ethelbert, a lively young woman of mixed heritage, embodies a uniquely American curiosity that questions the quarrels of old‑world nationalisms.

Against this backdrop of idealism and financial scarcity, the story follows the family's attempts to reconcile lofty philosophies with the practical demands of everyday life. As they navigate the tension between intellectual pursuits and the relentless pressure to accumulate wealth, the narrative offers a witty, thoughtful glimpse into a family that values beauty, diversity, and moral purpose above material comfort.