 The satirical novel is set mostly in poor districts of Montreal, like St. Urbain Street, with mention of wealthier districts, like Westmount and Outremont.Parts of the story take place in the Laurentian Mountains in the resort town of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and surrounding areas.The novel focuses on the young life of Duddy Kravitz, a poor Jewish boy raised in Montreal, Quebec.