Sofia, Bulgaria

Most of the novel is set in Sofia, which is the capital and most populous city of the country of Bulgaria. The narrator is originally from the United States, but he has moved to Bulgaria to teach creative writing and literature to high school students. The country was known as the People’s Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 to 1990, and the country had a communist government during that period. The country now has a parliamentary republic. The country’s culture is defined in part by some distinct homophobia, but the narrator tries to be open about his homosexuality when he lives there. The narrator first meets R. in Bulgaria, but R. ends their relationship after moving back to Portugal. By the end of the book, the narrator decides to move back to the United States.

Italy

Chapter 5, “The Frog King,” takes place mostly in the country of Italy...