Michael Callahan is just 20 years of age when he decides to leave his lover, his education, and his country behind. A life-changing decision for any young man, but Michael's lover is male, his enrollment is at the newly-founded Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the time is 1890 in America. After Michael's beloved father stumbles upon the two architect students in flagrante delicto, Michael bravely tries to tell him who he really is. But John Callahan, a fervent Catholic, refuses to believe his son's words, and Michael decides he is tired of hiding his identity from everyone. In an impassioned move, Michael buys a ticket to Europe, leaving his family and lover behind.
Soon after arriving in London, Michael arranges to meet his idol, 41-year old Henry Sewell, the foremost modern architect of the era. Giving himself a newfound identity as Colin Edwards, Michael acts on a tip that Mr. Sewell himself is homosexual and seduces Henry the night they meet. He returns the next day with blueprints in hand to land a job with the renowned architect.
Colin shows Henry his greatest work thus far: THE HELIOS HOUSE, most notable for its completely circular shape. Impressed with the house and smitten with the young man, Henry quickly hires Colin and takes him as a lover. Soon Colin is introduced to Victorian Europe's underground world of homosexuality, which includes appearances by such famous figures as Oscar Wilde, Bosie Douglas, John Singer Sargent, and John Addington Symonds. He meets Henry's two closest friends, theatre-owner Kenneth Fairchild and banker Howard Durham, the latter of whom grows jealous of playboy Henry's devotion to Colin. Colin's affection for Mr. Durham only encourages Howard's persistent fantasy of having Colin for his own.
