Leo Percepied

Leo Percepied is the main character of "The Subterraneans." He is a man who is approaching middle-age and is pursuing a writing career. However, Leo does not seem to be very serious about his career. He does not write very much. In fact, he doesn't have a typewriter or few if any writing gigs. As the story opens, Leo had just quit a job as a messman on a ship. He left the ship in New York and traveled to his home in San Francisco. He meets with his old friends, the self-titled subterraneans, at a local bar. His friends gather outside a favorite drinking spot. As he approaches, he spots a beautiful black girl leaning against the bumper of a car. He is immediately taken with her and becomes obsessed with her. At first, the girl, Mardou Fox, is not interested him but he persists and...