The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Groff, Lauren. The Vaster Wilds. Riverhead Books, 2023.

Lauren Groff's novel The Vaster Wilds is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. The novel is set in the American wilderness shortly after the settlement of the Jamestown Colony. Although the author toys with conventional notions of the linear narrative plot line, the following summary abides by a linear mode of explanation for the sake of clarity.

The main character Lamentations was born into a parish poorhouse. Her mother, who was most likely a sex worker, gave birth to and abandoned her in this location. When Lamentations was still a little girl, a local mistress found her at the poorhouse. Horrified that her absent mother could leave her in such squalor, the mistress took her in. For a time, the mistress treated Lamentations as her own daughter. Over the years, however, distance grew between them as Lamentations assumed more servile responsibilities in the mistress's home.

After the mistress gave birth to a little girl named Bess with mental atypicalities, Lamentations devoted herself to her care. Although the rest of the family and community scorned Bess, Lamentations did everything in her power to protect her. Meanwhile, Lamentations suffered abuse by the hands of both the mistress's violent son Kit and her cruel second husband, the minister.

Desperate for a new and grander life, the minister insisted upon moving his family from England to the new world. Lamentations therefore set out for the Americas with the mistress, the minister, and their family. Although most people on board the Blessing were anxious and afraid, the sea voyage was peaceful and hopeful for Lamentations. This was primarily because she met her first love, a Dutch glassblower, on board the Blessing. Throughout their trip, Lamentations became increasingly attached to her new lover. She not only experienced her sexual awakening, but began to dream of building a life with the young Dutchman. However, when the glassblower went on deck in search of Lamentations during a storm one night, he was blown off the ship into the water below. After discovering that her glassblower was dead, Lamentations was overcome by grief.

Throughout Lamentations time in the settlement, she attempted to embrace her new life. However, over time, conditions in the fort rapidly worsened. The councilmen were violent and cruel and the community was ravaged by disease and famine.

After Bess died, Lamentations buried the little girl herself. Only moments later, she was horrified to see the minister and his men digging up and butchering the little girl's body for meat. Overcome by fury, Lamentations stabbed the minister in the gut, killed him, and fled.

Although the wilderness was unfamiliar to Lamentations, she was hopeful that leaving the settlement would grant her a new life. She headed north in search of the French settlements she had heard about. As the days passed, Lamentations grew weaker and weaker. She was starving and cold. She was lonely and afraid. Over time, she came to rely upon her memories, her daydreams, and her fantasies in order to survive. While these imaginary realms granted her relief from her desperate circumstances in the present, they also gradually dissolved her hold on reality.

After another lone wanderer hit Lamentations in the head with a rock, Lamentations' physical condition worsened. In time, her mental state also grew more tenuous. Finally, Lamentations realized that she was gravely ill. Having tended to many other sick individuals over the years, she diagnosed herself with smallpox.

Lamentations found a safe place on a river embankment to live out her final days. After erecting a small house for herself, she lay inside and meditated on her life. She realized that although she had survived this long, her loneliness was ultimately unbearable. She breathed her last breath and her body shut down in the same way as all other bodies.