It all starts out in London in the early twentieth century, following the life of Helen Ambrose and her husband Ridley. They are preparing for a long journey ahead, to an unnamed location off the coast of South America. There they are planning to stay for the whole of winter, leaving their two young children behind. She is a little downcast as she walks around with a sense of sadness and a touch of depressing emotions. There isn’t much light at the beginning of this tale.
However, the time draws near to depart. Helen and Ridley are taking the ship named Euphrosyne, owned and sailed by Willoughby Vinrace, Helen’s brother-in-law. The plan is to drop off the Ambroses and from there Vinrace will continue on towards the Congo for exploration. Also on board is Vinrace’s daughter, Rachel. Rachel is not a very remarkable person, quite uninspiring and confined to the normalities of her day and age. She is nothing special, nothing unique, and besides her gift in piano, she shows little emotion or delight in anything. Helen considers her and thinks that Rachel has the potential to be amusing and funny if only she would let her feelings out a little more. Rachel plans on continuing on the cruise with her father to the Congo, but Helen steps in with a brighter idea. She suggests that Rachel stay with her and Ridley at the unnamed resort to tag along and hopefully break out of her confinements a little. Rachel isn’t quick to agree, but eventually, with some reluctance, she decides to take Helen up on the offer and join her aunt and uncle. Rachel’s father, Willoughby, is actually quite relieved. He believes that Helen, his dead wife’s sister, will be able to bring Rachel out of her shell and make a “real woman” out of her. In reality though, behind the pretty words and explanation, he wants Rachel to become somewhat of a “Tory hostess” to be an entertainer for when he has guests over for political discussions. Helen however, has a slightly different idea. She wants to help Rachel become her own individual thinker, a person with temperament and uniqueness. The “voyage out” is both literal and mental, with the actual ship’s voyage lasting four weeks, and with Rachel finding herself outside of what she has always known.
After some time at sea, Helen, Ridley, and Rachel arrive at the resort. They have their own villa and settle in. As time goes by, Helen and Rachel make acquaintances and then good friends with several people in the resort. There are two of utmost importance: St. John Hirst, a student from Oxford University, and his good friend and companion Terrence Hewet, an aspiring author and novelist. Hirst is full of rather sexist views and confines to the idea that women are more objects than anything else. However, after talking much with Helen, Hirst finds a surprising amount of delight and enjoyment in her. But in Rachel, he finds nothing but what he calls annoying stagnation and utter dullness. He proceeds to call her rather unpleasant and insulting names and doesn’t see her as anything but worthless in terms of intellectuality. But Hewet sees Rachel much differently. Instead of judging her solely off of intellectual thinking, he connects to her on a personal and spiritual level. He sees that no, she is not just an idol object but much more so a living, thriving, unique human being. He defends her vigorously in front of Hirst and helps Rachel see herself from an objective standpoint, showing her the value and uniqueness she possesses. Hewet and Rachel share a bond while Hirst and Helen share a bond of their own. The four become quite close and intimate with one another.
Eventually, the four of them, plus a couple staying at the villa next door, go on a little “expedition” to the nearby village. Rachel and Hewet take a stroll in the woods alone, leaving the rest of the group behind for a while. For the entirety of the novel, the two are very fond of each other, but neither is brave enough to tell the other. However, with them being completely alone with just the other for company in a wild place, they find it appropriate and even a touch thrilling to confess their feelings to each other. Hewet proposes and they are betrothed, planning to get married soon. However, when they get married and become very comfortable with each other, Rachel becomes very ill. Her condition proceeds to worsen. There is no good doctor in the area that they are in. Hewet doesn’t want to admit that Rachel is in a very bad situation, her condition becoming very dangerous. He argues with Helen, trying to convince himself that this isn’t as bad as it seems. However, Rachel soon starts to hallucinate and it becomes the last straw for Hewet. He runs to the neighboring area and retrieves a much more competent doctor. The doctor rushes to Rachel and is distraught when he discovers the severity of her condition. With anguish, he informs the group that there is nothing he can do for her. Hewet stays by her bedside as she peacefully dies in her sleep.
Though starting off with Helen, the story really has its focus and attention on Rachel. Rachel, being the main character and revolving topic of this novel, goes through an internal voyage of self-discovery. There is not much action within its pages, but relies heavily on deep conversations and well thought out responses. There is much conflict, tension, as well as resolution within the pages of this tale.
