The novel is a dark, gripping study of people caught in a nightmare of corruption and violence, forcing them to decide whether to remain "actors" in a tragic comedy or face the grim reality of revolution.
The story follows three men, nicknamed "the comedians," who meet on a ship bound for Port-au-Prince:
Brown: A cynical hotel owner struggling to reclaim his property and his mistress.
Smith: An idealistic American vegetarian running for a "painless" political cause.
Jones: A mysterious con artist claiming to be a war hero.