Chapter 1 Summary

Henry lives at the Villa Borghese, a very clean place. He finds lice on Boris, the landlord, which is surprising due to the cleanliness of the house. Henry writes of death, and how everyone is dying or dead. He does not know why he is in Paris. At one time he had thought the purpose was to create artful literature, but he has abandoned this course in favor of creating disturbing literature. He addresses a woman named Tania as the audience focus of his writing, a personification of the chaos that characterizes reality. Part of his method will be to write crudely about sex with an intention toward humor, and of race with a focus on Jews. He addresses this part to Carl and expresses admiration for Tania's beauty. Tania is Henry's mistress, if not in reality at this time, then in fantasy...