Set in 1920s Summit, Illinois, the story follows recurring Hemingway character Nick Adams as he has a run-in with a pair of hitmen, who are seeking to kill a boxer, in a local restaurant.
[2] Hemingway's depiction of the human experience, his use of satire, and the themes of death, friendship, and the purpose of life have contributed to make "The Killers" one of his most famous and frequently anthologized short stories,[citation needed] and it has been adapted or referenced in various other works since its initial publishing.
In 1920s Prohibition-era Summit, Illinois, hitmen Max and Al enter the restaurant "Henry's Lunch-Room", staffed by George, the owner, and Sam, the cook.
After they depart, George sends Nick to Hirsch's Boarding House, run by Mrs. Bell, to warn Andreson about the hitmen.
Not long before the story was written, the Chicago mob had ordered the killing of a popular boxer of the time, Andre Anderson.