In the Armenian-populated cities of the Ottoman Empire, from Kharberd to Beirut and Constantinople, Tiratur Burbonyan attempts to build a world of grandeur around himself at the dawn of the twentieth century. He imagines himself a leader, a revolutionary, and a military commander, believing that speeches and bold promises can change reality. Through his story, the limits of ambition, self-deception, and public enthusiasm are revealed, as is the ease with which imagination can be mistaken for reality.