Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

The book opens with the main character, Frederic Moreau, gazing at a beautiful Parisian scene. However, his mood is melancholy; Frederic is traveling home by ship in order to study law and live with family, in Nogent-sur-Seine. On the ship, Frederic observes many people, but a man holding a young girl catches his eye; he strikes up a conversation with the man, who is named Jacques Arnoux. Arnoux, it turns out, is rather wealthy, and runs an art magazine. Their conversation is interrupted, however, so Frederic returns to people-watching. He is then mesmerized by a woman seated ahead of him in first-class; she is beautiful, with dark, smooth skin, beautiful clothing and petite facial features. He finds an excuse to speak to her, but only briefly, as Jacques Arnoux comes back with a small child; Frederic then finds out, sadly, that...