This book follows the life of Noel Smith, a fictional American attorney who moves to the top of his profession after his studies at Harvard and Harvard Law.
He has always been haunted by the heartbreaks of his earlier relationships. One with a girl he met during ski vacations in Rochers-de-Naye, Switzerland, and the other with his wife in New York. His devotion to work is intense and a substitute for everyday life.
Tragic events occur as he approaches retirement age culminating in an attempted suicide in the exact location where he met his first love. His physician suggests that he dictate an autobiography during his recovery from multiple fractures. He can then present it to a psychiatrist, whom she urges him to see.
His autobiography is the text of The Last Train from Montreux.