David Lurie, middle-aged and twice divorced, is a scholar fallen into disgrace. After years teaching Romantic poetry, he has an impulsive affair with a student. Willing to admit guilt, but not to repent publicly, he resigns and retreats to an isolated smallholding owned by his daughter Lucy. But the balance of power in the country is shifting; he and Lucy become the victims of a savage and disturbing attack, which brings into relief all the fault-lines in their relationship.