The novel follows Charles Arrowby, a retired and self-absorbed theater director who retreats to a secluded house by the sea, intending to write his memoirs and escape the complexities of his past life. However, his plans are disrupted when he encounters his first love, Hartley, now married and living nearby. Obsessed with rekindling their romance, Charles becomes entangled in a web of delusion and manipulation, leading to a series of dramatic and introspective events. The story explores themes of love, obsession, and the search for meaning, set against the backdrop of the mysterious and ever-changing sea.
