The period of time covered by this book is 1929-1934. Lanny Budd is recently married and enjoying life tremendously, starting out with a cruise aboard a luxury yacht owned by a friend. Soon, though, the economic struggles back in the States will meet up with the horrific actions of the Nazi party as it solidifies control of Germany. By the end of the novel, Budd will be using every effort to free a close Jewish friend from a concentration camp.