Inspired by the life of artist Paul Gauguin, this novel tells the story of Charles Strickland, a man who abandons his conventional life to pursue his passion for painting. His journey takes him from London to the South Pacific, where his obsession with art and personal freedom leads him down a path of selfishness, genius, and isolation. The novel explores themes of artistic ambition, the conflict between society and individuality, and the cost of creative fulfillment.