Set in post-1918, rural Sussex, the story revolves around Mary Viner, a young lady with aspirations to leave her small town, as well as her relationship with a man living on a local acreage, known as the Doomsday Farm. The story also follows Arnold Furze of the Doomsday Farm, World War I veteran struggling with the farm life, thorn between two women of different sensibilities who have a significant impact on him.