The novel’s narrator, Theo introduces himself thusly: “My name is Theo Faber. I’m forty-two years old. And I became a psychotherapist because I was fucked up” (16). Born in Surrey, outside of London, Theo grew up with his mother and abusive father. When he left home at 18 for university, he thought he was free. However, he struggled with mental health issues, having internalized his father’s physical and emotional abuse: “I was pursued by an infernal, relentless chorus of furies, all with his voice— shrieking that I was worthless, shameful, a failure” (19). After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, he started therapy. Theo’s therapist, Ruth, helped him through talk therapy. The voices in his head grew quieter. By the time the novel’s narrative begins, Theo is an experienced psychoanalyst.

Theo is delusional. He says, “I was fucked up,” but in fact he still troubled. He believes himself healed of his traumatic childhood but remains haunted by it. He sees himself as rescuing Alicia when in fact he ends up literally destroying her. He believes he’s escaped sharing his abusive father’s fate when in fact, he ends up in Surrey, just like his dad, living in his childhood home with a depressed wife in a loveless marriage.