'Mr. Moffatt' Summary

Mr. Moffatt, a seemingly ordinary chemist living in suburban Sydney with his wife, Florence, and adult daughter, Naomi, finds his life upended by a painting he acquires as collateral for a debt. He believes the artwork might be a lost masterpiece and travels to England to have it authenticated. While abroad, he encounters a world beyond his experience and begins to question his own life and values. Upon returning to Australia, Mr. Moffatt finds his family and community changed, leaving him grappling with a sense of displacement and a growing awareness of the complexities of human relationships. The novel delves into Mr. Moffatt's internal struggles, tracing his emotional journey as he navigates the shifting sands of his personal world, ultimately exploring themes of identity, change, and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world.