Who is Edgar Drake from The Piano Tuner and what is their importance?

Edgar Drake is the main character of the story. He is a piano tuner living in Victorian London in the year 1886. He is recruited by the army to travel to Burma to repair the Erard Grand Piano of Surgeon-Major Carroll, who is stationed at a fort called Mae Lwin, in the Shan States in northern Burma. Edgar agrees to go, as he is fascinated by the idea of the piano in the jungle, and by the man who intends to use music to promote peace. However, Edgar is not the adventuring type. He is quite shy and quiet, and comes across as a little unsure of himself. He is daunted by the idea of travelling all the way to Burma, and of leaving his wife behind, but his wife encourages him to go. She thinks that it is important and that he will have a chance to achieve something very worthwhile, but she also seems to think that the journey will help Edgar find more confidence and self-belief.