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1. When the novel opens, what is Battersby doing?

He is lying in bed and daydreaming about a genie. He imagines that he could rub one of the lamps on his wallpaper and a genie would appear and grant his wishes.

2. Describe Battersby's apartment.

Battersby's damp, run-down apartment is in the basement of a building in Brixton, London. It is expensive despite its terrible condition.

3. What is ironic about the difference between the food Battersby imagines on page 2 and the food he genuinely likes?

When Battersby is imagining a genie bringing him food as one of his wishes, he imagines fancy foods that he has only seen in magazines and is not sure he would like. But what he really likes is simple, traditional foods like dumpling and pigtail. This is ironic, since it is Battersby's wish and Battersby has full control of the fantasy--one would expect him to imagine the genie bringing him exactly what he wants.

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