Main Characters and Description of Each Lieutenant Fredric Henry (Tenente) -The story is told from his point of view. He is a young American in the Italian army during WWII. Rinaldi -One of Tenente's best friends, he is also a Lieutenant. Catherine Barkley -A nurse who works with a group of British nurses. She and Tenente fall in love later in the story. Setting: The story takes place in the 1940's, during WWII. The place changes along with wherever Tenente goes, because the book is told in first person. The story moves from Italy t ....