The lives of two men-Roderick Hudson, a gifted sculptor, and Rowland Mallet, Roderick's benefactor-are tragically altered by love after they travel to Europe to further Hudson's career. Mallet, a wealthy bachelor, finds himself hopelessly in love with Mary Garland, a distant cousin of Roderick's engaged to marry the sculptor. Hudson, despite his engagement, falls desperately in love with Christina Light, one of the most beautiful women in Europe, and who is also engaged to another. And as Hudson's obsession with Christina grows, he abandons his talent to embrace the lifestyle of the European elite, leaving Mallet to pick up the pieces left behind.
