In this novel, Gerhart Hauptmann tells the story of Friedrich von Kammacher, a German doctor who, after personal and professional setbacks, embarks on a voyage to America in search of a new beginning. During the journey, he encounters a diverse group of passengers, including a mysterious dancer, with whom he becomes entangled. As their ship faces a disaster reminiscent of the lost city of Atlantis, Friedrich grapples with themes of fate, identity, and the struggle for inner renewal. Hauptmann's narrative blends realism with symbolic exploration of human nature and existential questions.