Summary

The novel opens in New York City at the institutional development office of a university. Milo Burke, the protagonist and narrator, only ever refers to the school as Mediocre University at New York City. Milo is employed to help acquire donations for the university, but he is not very successful at his job. Milo is just under 40 years old. His coworker Llewellyn is far more successful in acquiring donations. One coworker is a temporary employee named Horace, whose rapport with Milo is based on semi-serious cynicisms about life and America. Milo’s supervisor is an outgoing but stern woman named Vargina. One day, a female student from a wealthy family enters the development office and rudely demands that Milo change her class schedule. Milo has a sudden angry outburst and yells at her, after which Milo is promptly fired. In Chapter 2, Milo leaves the...