Chapter 3 Summary

Kilgore is startled to one day receive a fan letter from one Eliot Rosewater. Rosewater praises Plague on Wheels as a masterpiece; but his poor handwriting leads Kilgore to mistakenly decide he is just a child. Several days later Kilgore is astounded to receive a letter from Fred T. Barry inviting Kilgore to appear as a keynote speaker at an upcoming arts festival to be held in Midland City at the Mildred Barry Memorial Center for the Arts. The letter states that Eliot Rosewater has recommended Kilgore, and a one-thousand-dollar check is enclosed to help defray travel expenses. Kilgore decides to go so he can represent the dark side and the failure of the arts. He finds his old tuxedo, now covered in mold, and sets off on a trip to Midland City.

Chapter 3 Analysis

At first Kilgore is reluctant to address the...