Chapter 1, The Garden of Eden Summary

Sophie is a girl approaching her 15th birthday. She first encounters some odd philosophical questions and then the first chapter of a written philosophy course in her mailbox. Sophie is very interested and starts to learn about the historical beginnings of philosophy. At the same time, Sophie is curious about who is giving her this course. The story is complicated by the fact that Sophie begins to receive postcards addressed to Hilde, a girl also approaching her 15th birthday, from Hilde's father Albert Knag, a Norwegian Major in the UN Forces in Lebanon.

Sophie walks home with her friend, Joanna, part of the way and then walks farther to her red house on the edge of the woods. Sophie checks the mailbox and finds an envelope with her name on it. Inside is a note...