Master of the pun and now master of his own antique shop, Tim Vine has a secret to his business that he keeps from his customers: the grandfather clock in the corner is his own personal time travelling device!

With this invaluable aid to keeping his shop well-stocked and appeasing every customer's whim, he naturally finds himself attempting to fulfil some rather obscure requests.

On his adventures back through the annals of time, Tim finds himself regularly in contact with some of history's most noteworthy figures, and facing all manner of historic challenges along the way.