John Knowles is a known author based on his most famous novel "A Separate Peace." "A Separate Peace" is not merely a title or phrase, but is in concordance with how the main character Gene gains from his best friend, Phineas, who lost all he had, including his life.

Gene, narrator of the novel, begins his story visiting two particular locations at his former school, Devon Prep. The first is a marble staircase where Phineas dies and the second is a tree that Gene knocks Finny off of crippling him for life.

Gene is a lonely intellectual sixteen year old boy with tendencies of analyzing his and everyone else's motives. The majority of the story he is highly competitive, selfish, insecure, and belligerent. On other occasions, he is brave, established, and loyal. Gene compares and contrasts himself with Phineas, and often falls short of his own judgment. Although...