Chapters 1-3 Summary

In Chapter 1 Augie March depicts his life at age 9: abandoned by an unknown father and living under the rule of a tyrannical boarder, Mrs. Lausch, whom they call Grandma. He loves his beaten down, simple-minded, worn-out Mama but learns little from her, is less school-oriented and gregarious than big brother Simon, and cares for his "idiot" younger brother, Georgie. They are poor Jews in a Polish Catholic neighborhood that only rarely makes them suffer for their heritage. Augie enjoys being sent by Grandma to dicker with the Charities and clinic about free services.

In Chapter 2, Augie at 12 gets a summer job distributing theater handbills, and the next summer moves in with relatives, the Coblins, to help with the newspaper route. It is a slovenly household but they are generous with him. Emotional Cousin Anna intends Augie and daughter Freidl to marry...