Milo Burke

Milo Burke is the narrator and protagonist of the novel. At the time of the main narrative, Milo is just under 40 years old. He studied painting in college and aspired to be a successful painter. However, he never fulfilled these ambitions. During the novel’s main narrative, he is in his late thirties and is employed as a fundraiser for a mediocre university in New York City. He is married and has a toddler-aged son. After Milo is fired for yelling at a student, his superiors offer to rehire him if he is able to acquire a large donation from the very wealthy Purdy Stuart, who is a former college friend of Milo’s. While pursuing this donation, Milo agrees to be a go-between between Purdy and Purdy’s illegitimate son, Don. Milo delivers Purdy’s monetary bribes to Don, as Purdy hopes to purchase permanent estrangement...