Johan Thoms is poised for greatness; a promising student at the University of Sarajevo, he can outwit chess masters, quote the Kama Sutra, and converse with dukes and drunkards alike—and he is in love with the beautiful Lorelei Ribeiro. But he cannot drive a car in reverse. And as with so much in the life of Johan Thoms, this seemingly trivial detail will prove to be of vast significance when, on the morning of June 28, 1914, as chauffeur to Franz Ferdinand in Austria's royal entourage, Johan makes one wrong turn and alters the course of history. Spanning much of the subsequent century, Ian Thornton's stunning historical novel traverses the regret of a man determined to remake the past.

"Echoes of Gabriel García Márquez. Read it slowly and savor it."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"What Thornton manages to do is take one tiny player in a monumental event and focus in on Johan Thoms with the careful research of an historian and the deft touch and aplomb of a true literary artist."—Huffington Post

"A wonderful brilliant book: comic, erudite, and wildly ambitious in scope. A genuine pleasure to read."—Lewis DeSoto