Charlie Schuyler

The structure of Vidal's book, Burr: A Novel is unique. The book has a grand total of seventy-five chapters, and is comprised of five parts, designated by a year of Aaron Burr's life. Each part ranges from six pages for the part recording the year 1840, to the part covering the year 1835, comprised of 36 chapters and a grand total of two hundred seventeen pages. The story-telling style incorporates Charlie's observations, what he writes for "The Evening Post," of his interactions with Burr and other characters when the story is being told from Charlie's point of view. During the memoir sections, the first person perspective is always that of Aaron Burr as a young man. His recollections as an older man, looking back on his life are told to Charlie as the narrator, back in his first person perspective position.

The first part begins in 1833, and Burr is seventy-seven...