Less Is Lost

Freddy Pelu is Arthur’s boyfriend and the narrator of the story. In the novel Less, Freddy pursues Arthur across Europe, leaving behind his fiancé. In Less Is Lost, Freddy struggles with understanding himself in the context of a serious long-term relationship. He has his own dreams and goals but puts them on hold for Arthur. Their relationship is imbalanced. He is younger than Arthur and lives in the same shack that Arthur lived in with Robert, playing the role that Arthur played with his former boyfriend.

As a narrator, Freddy is both far away from Arthur and omniscient. Freddy’s voice allows for a loving tone as he analyzes Arthur and describes his misadventures. Freddy also goes on his own mini-odyssey, first to Maine, then to an island off the coast of Maine to try to write his own book. Freddy takes a cross-country train, one of his dream trips. Freddy’s solo journey and attempts to write signal his character growth and shift from his role as compromiser.

Throughout each character’s odyssey, Freddy and Arthur are in little contact, making Freddy doubt the relationship more. Ultimately, Arthur and Freddy stay together after Arthur tracks him down, a role reversal from the plot in Less. 

Lawrence Less is Arthur’s long-lost father. He disappeared from Arthur’s life when Arthur was a child, after Lawrence was wanted for a Ponzi scheme. Arthur and his sister Rebecca haven’t heard from Lawrence for decades, until, on death’s doorstep, Lawrence unexpectedly reaches out. Arthur mistakenly believes that Lawrence is the mystery benefactor of the staged adaptation of his short story; when he discovers the truth, he is reminded of Lawrence’s inability to follow through on his promises. Lawrence manifests Arthur’s anxieties about the past, and Arthur’s reunion with him gives him necessary closure. Arthur realizes that he can forgive the Lawrence of now, while not letting the father who abandoned him off the hook.