Gustad Noble

The protagonist of the novel, Gustad Noble is a devotee of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda. Nearing 60, Gustad's hair and beard are whitening, but his moustache is thick and black. Tall and broad-shouldered, he is the envy of relatives and friends. A slight limp recalls a serious accident nine years ago, suffered saving his son from a speeding car. Gustad loves to sing, modifying the verses of popular American songs. He has been married for 21 years to Dilnavaz, and they have two teenage sons, Sohrab and Darius, and a daughter, Roshan, who turns nine years old during the course of the novel.

Gustad feels obliged to keep some things secret from his outspoken wife. Gustad's early life has been scarred by the bankruptcy of his father's bookstore, which forced him to pay his own way through college. He has worked nearly 20 years in a bank, and wants...