Jerry was forced to leave his native Poland during the troubles in 1967 and 1968, after being harassed by the secret police and being subjected to anti-Semitism. Years later, after working as a biochemist in Sweden and then in Switzerland, he returns to Poland for a conference and recounts the events of his earlier life, prior to his exile. He is also confronted with the realities of the past - communism in Poland - during the course of his visit. The main thread of his story is of his passionate affair with Catherine, a celebrated Polish actress, whom he had to abandon when he fled the country. Tragically, she dies before they can be fully reconciled. A Long Postponed Visit also recalls all the other events of Jerry's life; his marriage to Vera and her tragic death in an accident and all the other affairs and relationships in his life - friends lovers and his own children - artfully weaving astute socio-political and historical analysis into this intriguing story of one man's tumultuous life.