Bruce Chatwin's bestselling novel traces the fortunes of the enigmatic and
unconventional hero, Kaspar Utz. Despite the restrictions of Cold War
Czechoslovakia, Utz asserts his individuality through his devotion to his
precious collection of Meissen porcelain. Although Utz is permitted to
leave the country each year, and considers defecting each time, he is not
allowed to take his porcelain with him and so he always returns to his
Czech home, a prisoner both of the Communist state and of his collection.