The novel is about literature and writers – mediocre authors travelling together around Europe. A literary association has invited authors of various nationalities to a seminar and the narrative follows their train journey through Europe on the Literature Express, a train specially chartered for the occasion. The novel describes the self-absorption of the authors and their inability to communicate with one another.

The main character of the story is a Georgian author. At the heart of the novel lies the love story between him and his Polish translator’s wife. However, their romance is as unsuccessful as are the protagonist’s attempts at literary success. All the authors on the Literature Express aspire for fame and originality, but fail to prove it with their work in a very ironic story finale.