Editing Death of a Hero (section)

===Book I===

The first part details George's family history. His father, a middle-class man from England's countryside, marries a poor woman who falsely believes she is marrying into a monied family. After George's birth, his mother has a series of lovers. The portrait of George's parents is believed to be based on his own parents, whom he disliked.<ref name="Crawford">{{cite journal|url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/v37/n02/robert-crawford/lithe-pale-girls|title=Lithe Pale Girls|date=22 January 2015|author=Robert Crawford|journal=London Review of Books|volume=37|issue=2|access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref> One critic called the characters "parodic monsters".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/v21/n04/robert-irwin/top-grumpys-top-hate|title=Top Grumpy's Top Hate|date=18 February 1999|author=Robert Irwin|journal=London Review of Books|volume=21|issue=4|access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref>

George is brought up to be a proper and patriotic member of English society. He is encouraged to learn his father's insurance business, but fails to do so. After a disagreement with his parents, he relocates to London to become an artist and live a socialite lifestyle.