New York City

The majority of the novel is set in current-day New York City. Mellors paints the metropolis as a fast-paced environment flush with unending parties and high-end cliques. From the eclectic strangers on the street and the diverse group of immigrants that comprises the main cast, readers get the sense that New York is built on a plethora of cultures. The excess displayed in these settings juxtaposes the emptiness and lack of belonging most of the characters feel, and shows how these conveniences distract them from their sense of self.

Nice, France

Frank and Cleo vacation in Nice, France, as a delayed honeymoon. They stay at a high-end resort with sophisticated decorations that is cut off from local life. This divide is showcased when Cleo leaves Frank at the hotel and enters the town by herself. The backdrop of beautiful but empty architecture indicates Cleo's state of...