This novel generally takes place in 1958 in New Hampshire at an all-boys military school called Devon.  The author shifts the focus of the set time to World War II by creating a flashback of the main character, Gene.  Although the setting varies throughout New England, it is mainly centered around Devon and its surroundings.  This is a fictional novel that was based off the author’s experience at Exeter during the summer of 1943.  Only a few of the elements of this piece were part of Knowles experiences at Exeter, which were friendship, athleticism, and loyalty.  The events in this novel could not happen in today’s world, because it is nearly impossible to find a teenager who would intentionally want to harm, or even kill his best friend out of jealousy. Although it is written as a mishap of bone marrow trickling into Finny’s bloodstream, in reality it was Gene who caused Phineas to fall off the tree, and the rest of his(Finny) unwanted injuries and disturbances. This is what is known today as manslaughter. However, this book could plausibly occur today, even though we are currently without war.  If, by some terrible series of events, the world was to experience the onslaught of another war, it’s not totally irrational to think that there could be an all- boys’ private military academy in which there resides a group of insolent teenage boys that like to jump from trees and hold mock festivals.  And, of course, some loon could go AWOL and another could push his best friend from a tree overhanging a river.  Why not?