James Piper

The son of a shoemaker and a musician, James Piper grew up in an abusive home. His short temper and strange disposition quickly makes him into the main abuser in his family.

Early in the novel, it is obvious that James is attracted to a young women Materia, a thirteen-year-old daughter of one of his piano tuning customers. He seduces her and they elope together. However, after his first child, Kathleen is born, he quickly becomes obsessed with her. When she reaches the same age Materia was when they met, James finds himself aroused by Kathleen. He realizes that he must do something to conquer his "demon," which is how he refers to his sexual desire for Kathleen. His first idea is to enlist in the military as the Great War has just started. When he comes back from the war front earlier than he anticipated, James...