Centre stage in Angela Carter's unruly tale of the Flower Power generation is Joseph - a decadent, disorientated rebel without a cause. A self styled nihilist, whose girlfriend has abandoned him, Joseph has decided to give up existing. But his concerned neighbours and friends have other plans.

In an effort to join in with the spirit of protest which motivates his contemporaries, Joseph frees a badger from a local zoo; sends a turd airmail to the President of America;falls in love with the mother of his bestfriend;and accompanied by the strains of an old man's violin, celebrates Christmas Eve in a bewildering state of sexual discovery. But has he found the Meaning of Life?