Point of View

The novel is written from the first person point of view of the main character, David Howland. For this reason, all of the novel’s conflicts, tensions, and stakes originate from David’s distinct way of seeing and experiencing the world. The author has written the novel from David’s vantage point in order to capture the nuances of a young Black man’s experience working with the prospective first Black president. Indeed, David’s time working with “the young junior Senator from Illinois” launches his self-discovery journey and challenges how he sees himself (10). Throughout the novel, David’s experiences on the campaign gradually change his outlook on reality. Shifts in his narrative tone and style over the course of his account enact this evolution.

The way David sees and experiences the world is related to his artistic sensibilities. Although he insists he has “no...