The quirky exploits of Mr. Vogel, a strange, solitary man who leaves his car lights on so that people will knock on his door, is documented in this warm-hearted novel about a man's dreams for love, friendship, and freedom. Mr. Vogel's life unexpectedly changes when an unorthodox competition wins him a fortune of money, a beautiful house, a quaint little croft, and a pagoda. Odd circumstances then compel him to embark upon a quixotic walking tour of Wales, and he soon finds himself traveling backward in time, visiting his childhood and even observing the development of his country's history and literature. At the core of this humorous and gentle tale is a rumination on the importance of hope.