In 1910, Jan Brozek is a lone traveler, making his way across a Europe preparing for war, intent on immigrating to America to establish a new life for himself and his fiancee, Maria, who will follow once he has earned the money for her passage. Early in his travels he saves the life of Anna Ihnacak, the beautiful daughter of a Hungarian nobleman - their easy attraction creates emotions that, as he travels on, he has difficulty dealing with and understanding. Ready to sail across the Atlantic on the last, three-week leg of bis journey, he is stunned when his careful plans are deailed at the last minute and he must choose an alternate course, one that sets him on what would be a two-year odyssey covering three continents.

In his tavels, Jan moves in and out of the personal stories - involving murder and corruption, personal losses, natural disasters, and evervday situations - of those he meets along the way. And he is tempted by new opportunities that challenge his original goals. All the while he wrestles with his emotions concerning Maria and Anna; finally reaching a surprising resolution as his long journey takes yet another unexpected turn.