In the American South of 1948, General Pendergast struggles to assert himself against his egocentric and shameless wife, while simultaneously disregarding her romantic relationship with a neighboring officer, whose marriage is also shaken. The appearance of a pleasure-seeking soldier will bring to the surface the sexual repressed desires of both couples.

The book has been adapted into a film by John Huston (1967), starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando.