The Widening Gyre Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 1-2

Chapter 1-2 Summary

Spenser sits alone in his office and watches the Boston streets below him while he drinks a tall glass of whiskey. F.X. Farrell, called Fix Farrell, enters Spenser's office and offers him a job as a bodyguard for Senatorial hopeful Meade Alexander. Alexander is running against Robert Browne, a politician known to have mafia connections, and Alexander recently received death threats. Spenser takes the highly-paying job.

Spenser meets Meade Alexander and his wife Ronni. Ronni is a beautiful, demure blonde. Alexander is a conservative Christian, and even though Spenser does not subscribe to his faith, Alexander agrees to hire the witty detective. Spenser then introduces himself to the other two police officers who had been protecting Alexander.

Chapter 1-2 Analysis

The first chapter introduces Spenser, a witty, unflappable private detective. Spenser is drinking even thought Fix Farrell says that he has never heard that Spenser is a lush. Spenser's uncharacteristic consumption of whiskey...
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