Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

Anatole Broyard, twenty-six, just returned from World War II. It was 1946 and it was the best time in America. The country had won a war and everything was new and promising. Anatole met Sheri Donatti who lived in an apartment in Greenwich Village. She leased a second apartment in her building that she planned to rent. It seemed perfect for Anatole—he was looking for an apartment and wanted to live in the Village.

Sheri was beautiful but not in a conventional way. Her pale blue eyes were luminescent against her pale skin and long dark hair. Her lithe, small-breasted top was supported by a much larger bottom with curvy hips and solid legs. There was something reminiscent of old-world art in her appearance which was apropos since Sheri was a budding artist. Anatole was not exactly sure what Sheri...