Summary

Cultural studies professor David Kepesh begins his first-person narration with a reflection on one of his students, Consuela Castillo, whom he taught eight years earlier. He no longer teaches full-time, just a single class called Practical Criticism, which attracts many female students intrigued by its minor celebrity professor, who has appeared on NPR to review books. David admits to being “vulnerable to female beauty” (2) and knows immediately when his classes begin which student he will ultimately pursue when he is no longer her professor. He met Consuela when she was twenty-four and he was sixty-two.

Immediately, David knew Consuela was special: the way she carried herself suggested maturity beyond her years. She dressed like a professional, not a student, and was aware of her sensuality. However, she seemed unsure of how to use her seductive power. Unlike most of David’s students, Consuela...