Point of View

The novel's protagonist, Cyril Avery, is a first person narrator. Technically, he is also omniscient, for two reasons. First, any events that affect him for which he is not present, such as the circumstances surrounding his conception and birth, are recounted to him by other characters. Second, he is telling his life story near the end of his life, so he benefits from both foresight and hindsight. Though he has all the knowledge a third person, omniscient narrator would, he does not have the detachment of one. He sometimes judges his previous actions. Also, though he is the only narrator, other characters retell or comment on events he has presented in their conversations with him.

He is not an unreliable narrator. However, others' ability to comment on his actions means that, though his point of view is singular, it is not definitive. For example, one...