Ashenden · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham.
Ashenden
major
Also known as Already Ashenden, Mr. Ashenden, Monsieur Ashenden
British intelligence agent navigating espionage and human drama across Europe.
R.
supporting
Also known as R. who missed little, Presently R.
Ashenden's sharp-eyed superior in the intelligence service.
Mr. Harrington
supporting
Also known as Mr. John Quincy Harrington, XVI Mr. Harrington
An American traveler with a peculiar obsession with laundry.
Anastasia Alexandrovna Leonidov
supporting
Also known as Anastasia Alexandrovna, Anastasia
A Russian émigré entangled in revolutionary politics and personal loyalties.
Giulia Lazzari
supporting
Also known as Giulia
A captivating Italian woman with a mysterious past and dangerous connections.
Miss King
supporting
Also known as Miss King Ashenden, a Miss King
A British spinster who becomes an unwitting pawn in intelligence work.
The Hairless Mexican
supporting
Also known as the Mexican, The Mexican
A flamboyant and deadly agent working for the British.
Gustav
supporting
Also known as IX Gustav
A German spy with a taste for opera and a tragic fate.
Grantley Caypor
supporting
Also known as Caypor, Grantley, Herr Caypor
A British traitor living quietly in Switzerland with his German wife.
Mrs. Caypor
supporting
Also known as lesson Mrs. Caypor
The devoted German wife of a suspected British traitor.
Sir Herbert Witherspoon
minor
Also known as Sir Herbert, Witherspoon
A pompous British diplomat with a taste for fine dining.
Chandra Lal
minor
Also known as Chandra
An Indian revolutionary plotting against British rule.
Yvonne
minor
A French woman caught in the crossfire of espionage.
Byring
minor
A British officer involved in a dangerous mission in Russia.
Vladimir Semenovich Leonidov
minor
Also known as Vladimir Semenovich, Vladimir
An exiled Russian revolutionary with a volatile temper.
The General
minor
A high-ranking Russian military figure in exile.
Prince Ali
minor
Also known as The Prince, Alix
A flamboyant Albanian prince with a taste for luxury.
Dr. Egon Orth
minor
Also known as Dr. Orth
A German spy posing as a dentist in Switzerland.
Mr. Wilbur Schäfer
minor
Also known as Mr. Schäfer
An American businessman with a suspicious interest in European politics.
The Baroness von Higgins
minor
Also known as the Baroness de Higgins, the Baroness von Higgins, the Baroness
A German spy operating under the guise of a socialite.
Fritzi
minor
Also known as And Fritzi
A young German woman working as a maid in a Swiss hotel.
Manuel Carmona
minor
Also known as Manuel
A Spanish agent with a shadowy past.
Félix
minor
Also known as Monsieur Félix
A French hotel manager who aids Ashenden.
Madame Lazzari
minor
Also known as Madame
Giulia Lazzari's elderly mother.
Monsieur Bridet
minor
A French police inspector assisting Ashenden.
Brown
minor
A British agent working undercover in Switzerland.
Constantine Andreadi
minor
Also known as Andreadi
A Greek businessman with ties to German intelligence.
Professor Z.
minor
A reclusive academic with secret knowledge.
King B.
minor
A deposed Balkan monarch seeking asylum.
Aunt Maggie
minor
Ashenden's elderly aunt, mentioned in correspondence.
Maria Penn Warmington
minor
Also known as Maria
A British woman living in Russia with revolutionary sympathies.
Major von P.
minor
Also known as Major von P. It
A German officer involved in intelligence operations.
Count von Holzminden
minor
Also known as Holzminden, Count Holzminden
A German aristocrat and spy.
La Marqueza
minor
A Spanish noblewoman with a mysterious agenda.
Rose Auburn
minor
An Englishwoman caught up in the Russian Revolution.
Madame de Brides
minor
A French socialite with a secret past.
Herr Grabow
minor
A German businessman in Switzerland.
Mustapha Pasha
minor
Also known as Mustapha
An Albanian chieftain allied with Prince Ali.
Somerville
minor
Also known as Mr. Somerville, OK Mr. Somerville
A British intelligence officer in the field.
O'Malley
minor
An Irish journalist with revolutionary contacts.
