The protagonist, Ferdinand Bardamu, navigates the senseless violence of World War I and the subsequent decay of human society across multiple continents. Driven by a profound sense of disillusionment, Bardamu drifts through a series of grim environments, including the trenches of the Great War, colonial Africa, and the industrial landscape of the United States. He encounters a cast of desperate characters, each reflecting the moral bankruptcy and absurdity of the modern age. The narrative is presented as a first-person, stream-of-consciousness account, characterized by a cynical and visceral tone that rejects traditional heroic tropes.

Readers and critics frequently note the abrasive, nihilistic style that defines the prose. Discussion often centers on the author's innovative use of language, which breaks from formal literary conventions to mirror the chaotic internal state of the narrator. Many highlight the effectiveness of the bleak atmosphere in conveying the protagonist's alienation from society. The work is often analyzed for its uncompromising critique of human nature and the institutions that govern it. Readers generally find the pacing relentless, reflecting the frantic, aimless movement of the central character.