A captivating masterpiece about the famous recluses. Inspired by a true story, E.L. Doctorow tells the tale of brothers Homer and Langley, who fill their house on New York's Fifth Avenue with objects from their obsessive collecting and gradually sever their ties to the outside world. However, the outside world continues to knock at their door in the form of visitors. With a brilliant artistic touch, Doctorow reflects on the first eighty years of the last century: touching, humorous, and told solely from the perspective of the two eccentric recluses. Homer, the narrator of the novel, is blind and highly sensitive, while Langley, the older brother, has either gone mad or become a genius due to his experiences in the trenches of World War I. The two retreat to their childhood home, where they gather books and musical instruments.