Part 2 - The Past - Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

Part 2, Chapter 1 - In the first part of this chapter, narration describes how Leopold's beliefs about his mother and their relationship remained unchanged, untouched by reality and/or disillusionment, as the result of her not showing up for her visit. "In the course of that meeting that never happened," narration goes on to suggest, "that meeting whose scene remained inside Leopold, she would have told what she had done without looking for motives. These he could supply, for he would understand."

Narration then turns to a time ten years in the past when Leopold's mother, Karen Michaelis, traveled to Ireland for a vacation after the announcement of her engagement to a government agent named Ray Forrestier, said engagement leading to a happiness that felt more and more false. Narration describes Karen's...