Who is Evan?

At the time Lily meets Eva, Evan is the preeminent modern Australian artist. He is controversial and captivating, challenging art critics with his experimental work. Evan is as lively as his pieces, sustaining high-energy and raucous behavior. In many ways, Evan is the lifeblood of the novel—because of his artistic success, the community of strays is formed, and the community’s success and failures mirrors Evan’s personal successes and failures. Evan’s vitriolic and passionate personality fuel phenomenal creative spirit and a strong living community, yet his temper, inattention to other people’s needs, and his ego, often get in the way of his more positive attributes.