Chicago

Chicago is a major city in the state of Illinois in the United States of America. Chicago serves as a main setting for the novel, both in the time of Lazarus in 1908, and in the time of Brik in 2004. In 1908, Chicago is heavily industrialized and is split largely between the wealthy, middle class, and settled immigrants, and a massive population of unassimilated immigrants. Chicago becomes a hotbed of radicalism – such as anarchism – as a result. As such, the immigrants become a target for assimilated immigrants and locals who resent and oppose the dangerous ideas and movements the unassimilated are sowing. It is into this environment that Lazarus emerges and is killed. While working on his book about Lazarus nearly a century later, Brik is dismayed to discover that so much of Chicago has changed based on what it was like back in 1908. Precious few places, such as Lincoln...