The sculptor Jocelyn Pierston finds his life defined by a persistent, obsessive search for an ideal woman, leading him to pursue three generations of the same family. Pierston, a man of artistic temperament, navigates the social landscapes of Portland and London while projecting his internal vision of beauty onto successive women. His objective is to capture the elusive 'well-beloved' in his art and life, a pursuit that repeatedly brings him into conflict with the realities of aging, social convention, and the autonomy of the women he desires. The narrative follows his psychological fixation across decades, examining the consequences of his inability to distinguish between his creative ideals and the actual individuals he encounters.

Discussion often centers on the unusual and obsessive nature of Pierston's romantic fixation, which many readers find both unsettling and deeply revealing of the author's own anxieties. Critics frequently highlight the novel's unique structure, noting how it deviates from the more traditional social realism found in the author's earlier, more famous works. Readers often debate whether the protagonist represents a tragic figure or a cautionary example of artistic narcissism. The atmospheric setting of the Isle of Portland serves as a significant point of interest, as it provides a stark, elemental backdrop for the protagonist's internal conflicts. This work is frequently analyzed for its psychological depth and its role as a bridge between Victorian sensibilities and emerging modernist concerns.