The Caretaker: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child death, death by suicide, mental illness, and ableism.

The novel’s eponymous caretaker, Blackburn, is a quiet, reserved, and solitary person. These traits are largely the result of his having contracted polio as a child, which left him with a disability that causes him to limp and partial paralysis in the muscles of his face. These physical conditions have caused people to perceive Blackburn as an “other” and as less than them. He suffered cruelty as a child and thus withdrew from the world, preferring the solitude and isolation of the cemetery as he took on the caretaking job. Blackburn is dedicated to his work, paying meticulous and loving attention to the details that result in a well-kept and lovely cemetery. He performs these tasks out of a deep respect for the deceased who rest there and their mourners, recognizing the important role he plays in the grieving process. Despite his kindness, Blackburn is alone in the world, save for the friendship of Jacob Hampton. The “blood brother” bond that the two made as children has come to define Blackburn’s commitment to Jacob, as he is grateful for the way Jacob is able to see beyond Blackburn’s physical appearance in a way that other people refuse to do.