18 Archer Street

Archer Street is the central location of the novel, and the street on which the Dunbar home is located. It is also the location of the Novac home, where Carey Novac lives with her parents Ted and Catherine, and of the home of Mrs Chilman, the elderly neighbor of the Dunbars. Situated in the racing district of town, and surrounded by stables and horse racing tracks, it is described as a quiet suburban street, of "drooping" power-lines and "stubbed out" parked cars (14).

Michael and Penny move to Archer Street not long after they are married, bringing with them their piano, which will never leave the Archer Street home. Penny is initially attracted to the horse racing in the area (239). It becomes the site of Penny's death, Clay's first meeting with Carey and the period of their romance, and Michael Dunbar's return after his disappearance. All of the...