Christopher Newman, a self-made American millionaire, travels to Paris seeking a wife of high social standing, only to find his aspirations blocked by the rigid pride of the French aristocracy. Newman attempts to integrate into the elite circles of the Bellegarde family, hoping to marry the widowed Claire de Cintré. He faces intense opposition from the family matriarch and her eldest son, who view his commercial background as an insurmountable barrier to their lineage. The narrative unfolds through a third-person perspective that emphasizes the cultural friction between American pragmatism and European tradition.

Readers and critics frequently discuss the novel as a foundational example of the international theme in literature. Discussion often centers on the moral contrast between Newman’s straightforward honesty and the duplicitous nature of the Bellegarde family. Many highlight the effectiveness of the atmosphere, noting how the setting of Paris serves as both a romantic backdrop and a site of social confinement. The pacing is often described as deliberate, allowing for deep character development that prioritizes psychological nuance over rapid plot progression. Readers often note that the thematic threads regarding the cost of social ambition remain relevant to contemporary discourse on class and identity.