Comment on point of view

From the foreword and other first-person pronouns interspersed throughout the novel, it is clear The Latecomer is narrated by a member of the Oppenheimer family. This person turns out to be Phoebe. Phoebe’s identity is kept hidden for plot purposes since her arrival marks a significant turn in events. Having the story told by an unnamed first-person narrator adds a layer of mystery to the novel, as the reader wonders who could possess such insight into the Oppenheimers’ lives.