The novel is set on Egdon Heath a fictional barren moor in Wessex in southwestern England. The native of the title is Clym Yeobright who has returned to the area to become a schoolmaster after a successful but in his opinion shallow career as a jeweler in Paris. He and his cousin Thomasin exemplify the traditional way of life while Thomasin's husband Damon Wildeve and Clym's wife Eustacia Vye long for the excitement of city life. Disappointed that Clym is content to remain on the heath Eustacia willful and passionate rekindles her affair with the reckless Damon. After a series of coincidences Eustacia comes to believe that she is responsible for the death of Clym's mother. Convinced that fate has doomed her to cause others pain Eustacia flees and is drowned (by accident or intent). Damon drowns trying to save her.

-Britannica