Paul Hobbes

Paul Hobbes is the main protagonist, and is also a thinly veiled portrayal of the novel's author, John Clellon Holmes. An aspiring writer in his early twenties, he's a college graduate living in Manhattan in the early 1950s. He works on his novel in the daytime and does not have a paying job, although he does have some money from his recent service in the military reserve. His wife brings in most of the income, which creates tension for both of them, because Paul's wife doesn't like her job. She hopes he will sell his novel, but they both realize the chances of making a living at writing are slim for him in the immediate future. Paul would like for his wife to be able to quit working, but he doesn't want her to do so,because he wants to keep writing.

Paul writes secretive love letters...