A group of American artists in Rome finds their lives irrevocably altered by a sudden, violent act of murder. Donatello, a young man resembling the Faun of Praxiteles, finds his innocence shattered when he commits a crime to protect his companion, Miriam. Alongside the painter Kenyon and the copyist Hilda, the characters navigate the moral consequences of their actions within the atmospheric, ancient setting of Italy. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to explore the psychological transformation of the protagonists as they grapple with the weight of guilt and the potential for spiritual redemption.

Readers frequently highlight the atmospheric quality of the Roman setting, which serves as a backdrop for the characters' internal moral conflicts. Discussion often centers on the ambiguity of the ending and the philosophical questions Hawthorne poses regarding the necessity of sin for human development. Critics often note the shift in tone from a lighthearted travelogue to a somber psychological study as the plot progresses. The balance between character introspection and descriptive prose is a common point of analysis for those examining the author's thematic intent. Many readers find the pacing deliberate, requiring patience to fully appreciate the symbolic weight of the interactions between the four central figures.