Arthur Forrest is the name of the protagonist. He was but a young scholar, confined to his own skull, as his intellectual pursuits slowly drained the vibrancy of his youth. Abroad, his life appeared orderly and dignified, but soon all composure slowly withered as he sensed the presence of Veda.

Inspired by Goethe's Faust, The Learned Disguise is a literary portrait of a young man's journey of dealing with inner conflicts, falling in love, and discovering his life's calling as a writer.