Who is Narrator/Jean de Daumier-Smith from Nine Stories and what is their importance?

"Jean de Daumier-Smith" is an alias used by the narrator. He arrives at the name by attaching the plain name "John Smith" to the last name of the famous painter Honore de Daumier. Orphaned at a young age, "Jean" is raised in Paris by his stepfather. He is described as enthusiastic, artistic, and a compulsive liar.