Point of View

The novel is written in first-person from two different perspectives. Each section opens with a narrative identified by ROUND number. These were written by Lucius Wakely, who identified himself as Cassius Clay's best friend. This narrative is followed by a series of poems written by Cassius. The novel is fictional and Lucius is a fictional character. Cassius was a real person but the events of this novel, though based in truth, are a fictionalized account. Cassius did not really write the poems and the reader is asked to accept that these are the stories of Cassius's life, from his perspective. The fact that there are two perspectives means the reader has a larger view of the people and events than usual. However, both perspectives are still limited and is further limited by the fact that they do not reveal every detail as it happens. For...