As an English soldier fights in the horrific trenches of northern France, he is haunted by the memories of his forbidden love affair with a French woman.
As Stephen Wraysford recovers from his injuries and prepares for a major offensive, he is still haunted by the legacy of his affair with Isabelle Azaire. Amidst the horror of the trenches, Stephen unexpectedly finds comfort in his friendship with Jack Firebrace, who shows him that there is a future worth fighting for.