Chapter 1 Summary

The setting for this story is an unstable one. Moses Herzog moves from town to town with his many relationships, jobs and wives. His work life is in a downward spiral thanks to his recent ex-wife, Madeleine. She insisted when they married that Herzog quit teaching and move to the country. When this did not make her happy, they moved to Chicago so Herzog could teach again. Madeleine insisted they take their neighbors, the Gersbachs, with them. One year later, Madeleine divorced Herzog and began a relationship with Valentine Gersbach.

Herzog teaches college level courses in Romanticism and receives grants to continue his studies. He received $15,000 over several years to finish a paper on Romanticism and Christianity. When the story takes place, Herzog's paper is in the bottom of his closet, unfinished.

Herzog is slowly becoming detached from reality. The author uses letters...