Alan Clay

Alan Clay is the main character and principle protagonist in the novel A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers. Alan Clay is an American businessman who works in consulting and sales for Reliant Systems, a communications company. Alan is divorced, and has a college-age daughter named Kit whom he loves deeply, and to whom he writes touching letters of advice and encouragement. Alan, though he has been a successful businessman, has been unable to successfully manage his finances, and has found himself in more than $100,000 worth of debt, and without a way to pay for his daughter's college education in the coming fall.

Alan Clay, who is an old friend of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's nephew, is tacked on to a Reliant trip to the country, seeking to score the IT job at the King Abdullah Economic City. Alan hopes the trip will secure his...