In the heart of the Late Elizabethan era, a young and ambitious Ben Jonson finds himself at a crossroads. Enveloped by the fear of losing his life in the tumultuous war in the Low Countries, he yearns for an escape from his overbearing stepfather's tyranny.
As the world around him is torn apart by war, Ben's dreams of becoming involved in the thriving Elizabethan theatre scene, where William Shakespeare reigns as the leading playwright, seemed increasingly distant.
The possibility of an ordinary life as a mere bricklayer looms on the horizon. Despite his humble beginnings, Ben's heart is filled with the yearning for sophistication, a longing inherited from his grandfather. Yet, the harsh reality of drudgery, poverty, and ceaseless labour threatens to engulf him entirely.
Can the elusive promise of fortuitous gold be the key to breaking free from the shackles of his past?