Set in Ferrara, Italy during the late 1930s, the book tells the story of the Finzi-Continis, a wealthy, aristocratic Jewish family who live in a secluded mansion with a beautiful, walled garden. The narrator, a young middle-class Jew, becomes infatuated with the family's daughter, Micoleta. As the Fascist regime's anti-Jewish laws become increasingly oppressive, the idyllic garden becomes a sanctuary for the local Jewish community, including the narrator. Despite the looming threat of the Holocaust, the family remains oblivious to their impending fate, leading to a tragic end.

Set in the mid-20th century Italian countryside, the novel follows the introspective journey of a wealthy, middle-aged landowner who is grappling with the ennui of his comfortable life. On a solitary hunting expedition, he reflects on his personal history, the societal changes post-World War II, and his own sense of alienation in the face of a rapidly modernizing world. As he traverses the foggy landscape, his existential crisis deepens, leading him to question the value of his existence and the choices he has made, culminating in a profound contemplation of life and death.