There are three main characters, all real people in 16th century France, that hold leading roles in the book; Of course, Martin Guerre, his wife, Bertrande de Rols, and Arnaud du Tilh, who is the supposed imposter that has taken over the life of Martin Geurre.
The characters of the book are heavily burdened by the strains of a feudal, patriarchal society in which they live. Martin, a young man engaged to de Rols, isn't liked very much by his father or his wife, but his wife is forced to marry him. Martin commits small acts that annoy his family, like stealing grain from his father.
After stealing the grain and "heavily disgracing" himself, he runs away from his family. The grain likely isn't the sole incident to have caused this, instead he was planning to leave for a while, and the grain gave him a solid excuse. Behind in France, he leaves his recently married wife alone with a young baby. Martin does not return for eight years.
Arnaud du Tilh has a run-in with Bertrande's Uncle, and this makes him question if he is who he really is who he says he is. After all, no one has seen the real Martin Guerre in over eight years and, according to the last memories of him, this man doesn't even look like him. Tilh is taken to court.
Here, the judge and the jury are to decide whether or not Tilh is actually Martin Guerre. Of course, the reader knows that he is not, but the witnesses to the case are split on whether or not he really is him - shows how much they truly knew him.
Suddenly, rather conveniently, Martin Guerre comes into the courthouse and says that this man is an imposter. If he had won the court case, he would have successfully taken over Guerre's life, but here is Guerre himself to prove it. Of course, now the judge and witnesses agree that Tilh is a phony, and he apologizes to Guerre.
But, who knows... maybe the "Martin Guerre" that came in during the trial was just another imposter?
