Summary

The novel Last Man in Tower begins with a "Note on Money." It explains the value of Indian currency in relation to the American dollar and translates Mr. Shah's offer to the tenants of Vishram Society as about $330,000 per family. It also quotes the per capita annual income in India in 2008-2009 as about $8,000.

The next introductory section provides a list of the tenants of the Vishram Society Tower A, including their names, ages, occupations, children if applicable and the names of apartment owners if they live elsewhere. A general description of the Vishram Society follows. Although the surrounding area is part of the slum district near the Mumbai airport, the building itself, built in 1959, is considered to be "pucca," solid and very respectably middle-class. A large black cross monument stands on the grounds, reminding everyone that the building was originally only...