In the City Where Marcus Aurelius Died Summary

After Garp's graduation from high school, he and Jenny move to Vienna for a year so that Garp may experience more of the world and develop some substance for his writing. It is now 1961 and Garp is fascinated by everything and tours the city voraciously while Jenny prefers to remain in the pension, a European-style hotel. For all of his life, Garp had been strongly managed by Jenny but the situation is now reversed because Garp must help Jenny cope with the language, food, and transportation since she is not interested in learning the Viennese culture.

During her extended free time, Jenny begins to write an autobiography, leaving Garp free to wander the streets where he soon encounters prostitutes, circus people, and all kinds of street people whom he hopes will...