A seaman who quarrels with his captain chooses to be left on a remote, uninhabited island and must learn to survive alone. The narrative follows his initial despair, gradual adaptation, and practical ingenuity as he builds shelters, secures food by hunting seals, crustaceans and wild plants, kindles fire by rubbing wood, and tames goats for provisions. He keeps religious observances and counts days to maintain mental order, fashions tools and utensils from ship remnants and local materials, and records the rhythms of island life. After years of solitude his skills and stoicism lead to eventual rescue and return to society.