When a large Midwestern city faces seemingly endless days of brutal cold and record snowfalls, an obscure department of the city must respond. Headed by a bold, young administrator, the department must balance the needs of the citizens with the political realities of rationing resources in the face of epic weather conditions. "The Winter" is a chronicle of the struggles of people in the face of unyielding tragedy and hardship. Each chapter is introduced with a vignette that compares the stories to those of an actual war being waged. It is a thought provoking exploration of characters being tested in the worst of conditions and who must endeavor to overcome forces well beyond their comprehension and control.