In James Michener's novel The Drifters, the young protagonists embark on a journey akin to that of Crusaders, seeking new ideals as they wander through the captivating landscapes of Europe and Africa. Drawing from the romantic allure of medieval quests, Michener paints his main characters as allegorical figures, each embodying a significant social cause. While these causes were fiery topics of the 1960s, Michener crafts his characters in a way that echoes timelessness, presenting their struggles as both eternal and current. Each of the seven principal characters is introduced in dedicated chapters, enhancing their allegorical significance as they eventually converge and travel together.

Through Joe, readers are offered a window into the turbulent world of a public university in California amidst the Vietnam War. Forsaking his academic pursuits to escape the military draft, Joe finds himself abroad, where his passion for activism is ignited by the urgent need for soil and water conservation. The ravaging of fertile lands in Morocco, turning to desert due to mismanagement, and the preservation efforts at a wildlife refuge in Mozambique, leave a profound mark on Joe, a character representing the ecological movement of the 1960s.

Enter Britta, a Norwegian soul embodying the malaise of modernity. Haunted by the fear of a life mirroring her father's unfulfilled dreams of traveling to distant Ceylon—despite his heroic wartime deeds against the Germans—Britta seeks an escape from the listless monotony of Norway. Her journey to Spain in search of adventure intertwines her fate romantically first with Joe, and later with Harvey Holt, the seasoned engineer who becomes part of this youthful ensemble.

In Monica, the offspring of aristocratic British lineage in the imaginary African republic of Vwarda, Michener explores rebellion against entrenched traditions. Set against the backdrop of nations shifting from colonial to majority rule, her story reveals the perils of rebellion without purpose. Experimenting with LSD and heroin, Monica encapsulates the chaotic essence of the 1960s drug culture.

Cato, a voice from Philadelphia, represents the civil rights movement's fervor during this decade. His encounters in Mozambique and Morocco lead Cato to Islam, echoing the journey of many African Americans who turned to this faith for empowerment, rejecting Christianity's perceived passivity in the face of oppression.

Gretchen, a Radcliffe student actively aiding draft dodgers and protesting against the Vietnam War, carries the scars of police brutality. Seeking solace and study, she travels to Europe, possessing a unique historical insight among her peers. She connects the turmoil of 1960s America with the medieval French Peasants' Rebellion, and her singing of Scottish and English ballads underscores the continuity between protest music of her era and the traditional balladry of yore. By the conclusion of The Drifters, Gretchen is so inspired by these parallels that she plans to author her own book.

Yigal, a celebrated figure from Israel’s Six-Day War in 1967, contrasts sharply with Joe's evasion of military service yet grapples with his dual identity. With citizenship in both the United States and Israel, Yigal faces the daunting decision of choosing his allegiance before embarking on an engineering career. Through Yigal, Michener delves into the theme of anti-Semitism, sparking dialogue between the Jewish Yigal and the black Cato, who both share the experiences of minorities in America. Their discussions veer into religion, particularly after Cato's newfound interest in Islam.

Harvey Holt, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, initially appears more traditional than the youthful dissenters of the Vietnam era. However, through his engineering work around the globe's most remote outposts for major corporations, Michener reveals that Holt is as socially peripheral as the rebellious youth of the 1960s.

The narrator, George Fairbanks, echoes Holt's wartime service but embodies the traditional values of American patriotism and corporate ethos through his work with World Mutual in Switzerland. Yet, his open-mindedness allows him to learn from the younger generation while imparting his own sage wisdom.

Among the supporting cast, Clive stands out with his uncanny ability to appear wherever the central characters roam, always accompanied by the latest records from England, adding a touch of the contemporary to their travels.