Part 1, Chapter 1-3 Summary

Chapter one opens with Dr. Rivers, who is a psychiatrist at Craighlockhart, reading a letter by S. Sassoon. The letter is titled "Finished with the War A Soldier's Declaration." In this letter, Sassoon clearly states he will no longer fight in the war and explains why. Because of this letter, Sassoon has been diagnosed with neurasthenia, or shell-shock, by a medical board and is being sent to Rivers for treatment.

After Dr. Rivers accepts Sassoon's case and begins going over the file, the scene changes to Sassoon on his way to Craiglockhart. His friend, Robert Graves, is supposed to ride out to Craiglockhart with him, but Graves is late and misses the train. Sassoon rides the train alone and remembers his conversation with Graves prior to accepting the going before the Board. During the ride from the train station...