Summary

"A God in Ruins" begins with three quotes, all of which pertain to different characters in the story.

The first quote is from the American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson and states that a man is a god in ruins. The second is a quote by the main character's mother. It states that art should convey truth, but it should not be the truth. The third quote is by Robert Baden-Powell who wrote and illustrated "Scouting for Boys in 1908. The excerpted quote describes the expectation of Scouts to be able to face difficulties.

The first chapter takes place in 1944 and briefly introduces the novel's main character, Teddy. Teddy was a soldier whose morning ritual included walking to his station at the end of the airfield. His battle friends believed that Teddy's walk had protected...