Seen through the eyes of Daniel Webster Whitney, a gifted but troubled painter, the novel explores the magnetic pull of the French Quarter's artistic community and the interior lives of those who inhabit it, such as William Faulkner, Sherwood Anderson, Conrad Albrizio, Lyle Saxon, and others.

As Dan moves through sizzling nightly salons alive with conversation and passion, New Orleans becomes more than a beautiful backdrop - it's a living force that seeps into his work, pushing him toward bolder expression and deeper self-discovery.

In the midst of this spiritual awakening, Dan falls in love with his effervescent debutante pupil, Catherine. Life and romance – and its ebbs and flows, from soaring emotional highs to despair – are part of Dan's experience and expressed in his art.

Rich in atmosphere and emotional depth, this novel captures the beauty and turbulence of a creative life. Dan is a seeker who strives for transcendence to a higher level of consciousness, a quest for even just a sliver of another dimension.