Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1934

The whole of the novel takes place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the year 1934. In the novel, Atlantic City is essentially divided into two: the Jewish neighborhood, where the Adlers live, and the Boardwalk with its impressive hotels, designed to attract wealthy white people. The Adlers are our insight into the Jewish community, which is very tight knit. Abe Roth, along with some elderly Jewish women, all help the Adler family as soon as Florence dies. Stuart, on the other hand, gives us an inside look at the elite part of town. His status as heir to The Covington enables him to take advantage of the hotels various facilities, like the pool where he gives Anna swim lessons. These two seemingly different worlds are united in that they each possess their own troubles.

The beach

A great deal of the novel takes place at...