the start of the novel, we are introduced to a rainy October day in 1875, when Noë Rabevel is taking his nephew Bernard, a ten-year-old boy, to school. Their conversation reveals discrepancies in their social situations: while Noë reflects on his lack of wealth amidst peers like Bansperger, who profited during the war, Bernard expresses both curiosity and a desire to understand his place in this world. The narrative unfolds to introduce their family dynamic, including reflections on Bernard's potential and his relationships with his uncles and community members. As Bernard navigates his new school life, he grapples with feelings of inadequacy and a yearning for power and respect, setting the stage for his development and internal conflicts that will be explored throughout the book. (This is an automatically generated summary.)