Prologue, Chapter 1 Summary

This novel is the story of a young gay man's coming-of-age in 1950's and 60's America, and in particular of his struggles to both suppress his sexual orientation and establish his career as a writer. While vividly detailing the specific circumstances and manifestations of that struggle, the narrative's central thematic concerns are universal such as coming of age, the search for self-identity in the face of powerful societal pressure to conform, and the experience of being an outsider.

The narrative begins with quotes from novelists Anatole France and Franz Kafka. The France quote likens pity to sensuality, while the Kafka quote refers to how people often do the same as other people without thinking of their own reasons for doing what they do and how the actions of one can trigger instantaneous, thoughtless reactions in the other. He likens the experience...