T he Sun Also Rises opens with the narrator, Jake -Barnes, delivering a brief biography of his friend, Robert Cohn. Jake is a World War I veteran who now works as a journalist in Paris. Cohn is also an American expat, although he is not a veteran. He is a wealthy Jewish writer who lives in Paris with his energetic and controlling girlfriend, Frances Clyne. Cohn has become agitated lately and he comes to Jake's office one afternoon to try to convince Jake to accompany him to South America. Jake refuses and he works to get rid of Cohn. That night, at a nightclub, Jake meets Lady Brett Ashley, a divorced socialite and the love of Jake's life. Brett is a free-spirited and independent woman, but she can be very selfish at times. She and Jake met in England during World War I, when Brett treated Jake for a war injury. During Jake and Brett's conversation, it is subtly implied that Jake's injury has rendered him powerless. Although Brett loves Jake, she implies that she does not want to give up sex and that for this reason she will not commit to a relationship with him. The next morning, Jake and Cohn have breakfast. Cohn is very infatuated with Brett, and he becomes angry when Jake tells him that Brett is planning to marry Mike Campbell, a hard-drinking Scottish veteran. That afternoon, Brett relieves Jake. That night, however, she arrives unexpectedly at his apartment with Count Mippipopolous, a wealthy Greek expatriate. After sending the Count to get champagne, Brett tells Jake that she is leaving for San Sebastian, Spain, saying it will be easier for both of them to be separated. Several weeks later, while Brett and Cohn are both traveling outside of Paris, one of Jake's friends, an American veteran named Bill Gorton... middle of paper ...... leave for Madrid together. Cohn left that morning, so only Bill, Mike, and Jake remain as the party draws to a close. The next day, the three remaining men rented a car and left Spain for Bayonne, then went their separate ways. Jake returns to Spain to San Sebastian, where he plans to spend several quiet and relaxing days. However, he receives a telegram from Brett asking him to come and meet her in Madrid. He complies and boards a night train the same day. Jake finds Brett alone in a hotel room in Madrid. She broke up with Romero, fearing she would ruin him and his career. She announces that she now wants to return to Mike. Jake books them tickets to leave Madrid. As they ride through the Spanish capital in a taxi, Brett laments that she and Jake could have had a wonderful time together. Jake replies, "Yeah, isn't it nice to think so?”