The narrator, Crabbe, knows a man named Charles Strickland for a few years, and many years later, Strickland becomes a famous painter. Crabbe decides to write a book about Strickland, and he talks about what he remembers of his experiences with Strickland. He also goes around Tahiti where Strickland lived his last years, and Crabbe hears the stories of various people who remember Strickland. For most of Strickland's painting career, he is anti-social, and considered by all to be without talent, so it is a great surprise when he turns out to be a painting genius.

Crabbe first meets Strickland through his wife, Mrs. Strickland. Crabbe is a young writer in London, and Mrs. Strickland loves hosting parties for writers. When Charles leaves his wife, she sends Crabbe to Paris to beg him to come back, certain he has left her for another woman. When Crabbe confronts Strickland, Strickland says that he wants to paint. Crabbe moves to Paris years later, and he looks up Strickland. Crabbe is friends with another painter named Dirk. Strickland will never let anyone see or buy his paintings, but Dirk is convinced that Strickland is a genius.

When Strickland gets sick, Dirk insists on bringing him into Dirk's apartment to get better, against his wife Blanche's wishes. Dirk is destroyed when Strickland kicks him out of his own studio, and then Blanche decides she is leaving Dirk for Strickland. Dirk desperately wants to get back together with her, but after Strickland dumps her, she commits suicide. When Crabbe tells Strickland that he should feel guilty for what he did to Dirk and Blanche, Strickland expresses no remorse, but instead shows Crabbe his paintings. Crabbe is disappointed to find that they are nothing special.

After months of gutter poverty, Strickland manages to sail to Tahiti, where he finally settles and finds his painting style. In the island paradise, Strickland lives a happy, simple life, painting in his hut, and being taken care of by his Tahitian wife, Ata. When he learns that he has leprosy, Strickland tries to send everyone away, but Ata insists on staying and caring for him until his death. Although Strickland is blinded by his leprosy, he paints the walls of his hut until his death, and creates a jungle masterpiece. After he dies Ata burns the hut down.