Summary

Chapter 1 opens in London England in 1949. It is four years after World War two, but the city is still suffering structural damage and shortages of goods. Lenny Lynskey is an 18-year-old Jewish resident of London. One day, Lenny sees known fascist supporter Jeffrey Hamm giving a public speech decrying Jewish people. Lenny throws a sandwich at Hamm. The crowd who was listening to the speaker then chases Lenny. In Chapter 2, Lenny’s twin sister Miriam is working in a flower shop. The anti-Semitic flower shop owner makes Miriam go by the name Mimi so that customers will not know that Miriam is Jewish. When Miriam leaves the shop, she sees Lenny being chased by the crowd. She strikes one of the pursuers and helps Lenny escape. In Chapter 3, Lenny undergoes a physical for enlistment in the army. He then meets with his uncle Manny...