Spans three decades from the early twenties to World War II in Charles Ryder's relationship with the wild and eccentric Sebastian Flyte and the aristocratic Marchmain family.

Charles is from a family with little money. Sebastian's family is wealthy. The two become friends at Oxford. When Sebastian invites his friend to dinner, Charles becomes involved with Sebastian's family. After Charles becomes an officer in the British Army he and his company are moved to an English country house that he realizes is Sebastian's family home. Here he discovers memories of his youth and young manhood, his loves, life, and a journey of...

A war story and a love story, as well as a biting satire on the emergence of the world we live in today.