Character guide

Iola Leroy

major

Also known as Iola, Miss Iola, Miss Leroy, Leroy, Dear Iola, Poor Iola, Miss Iola Leroy

Light-skinned mixed-race woman who discovers her African heritage and becomes a nurse and advocate.

Marie Leroy

major

Also known as Aunt Polly

Iola's mother, a former slave who married her master and raised her children in comfort.

Harry Leroy

major

Also known as Harry, Harry North, XIV Harry Leroy, The North, Wedding Harry

Iola's brother, a Union soldier who fights for freedom and family reunion.

Robert Johnson

major

Also known as Robert, Religion Robert Johnson, Johnson, Mr. Robert Johnson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Robert

Former slave who becomes a Union soldier and chaplain, devoted to his people.

Eugene Leroy

major

Also known as IX Eugene Leroy, Eugene, Leroy

Iola's father, a wealthy planter who marries his slave Marie and frees his family.

Dr. Gresham

supporting

Also known as Gresham

Union army surgeon who falls in love with Iola and supports her work.

Linda

supporting

Also known as Aunt Linda, Lindy, Aunt Lindy

Elderly former slave who becomes a mother figure to Iola and others.

Captain Sybil

supporting

Also known as Sybil, Captain

Union officer from Maine who befriends Robert Johnson and aids the cause.

Dr. Frank Latimer

major

Also known as Dr. Latimer, Frank

Talented black doctor who becomes Iola's love interest and husband.

Thomas Anderson

supporting

Also known as Tom Anderson, Tom, Anderson, VII Tom Anderson

Former slave who joins the Union army and dies heroically in battle.

Uncle Daniel

supporting

Also known as Daniel, Dear Uncle Daniel

Elderly former slave who tells his story of suffering and faith.

Miss Lucille Delany

minor

Also known as Miss Delany, Lucille

Iola's friend and fellow teacher at the Northern school.

Alfred Lorraine

supporting

Also known as Alfred, Lorraine

Eugene Leroy's cousin who schemes to inherit the plantation.

Bob

minor

Also known as Robby, Bobby, Robbie

Young enslaved boy who assists the Union soldiers.

Dr. Latrobe

minor

Also known as Latrobe

Southern doctor who treats Iola and later opposes her marriage.

Louis Bastine

supporting

Also known as Bastine, Louis

French Creole who courts Iola and reveals her heritage.

Aunt Katie

minor

Also known as Katie

Former slave who works as a cook and caretaker.

John Salters

minor

Also known as Salters, John

Cruel overseer on the Leroy plantation.

Miss Nancy

minor

Elderly former slave who helps care for Iola as a child.

Rev. Carmicle

minor

White minister who preaches to the slaves and later supports freedom.

Mrs. Harper

minor

Northern woman who hosts Iola and helps her find work.

Mrs. Leroy

minor

Eugene Leroy's first wife, who dies before the main events.

Uncle Dan'el

minor

Also known as dan Uncle Dan'el, Dan'el

Elderly former slave who tells stories of the old plantation.

Gracie

minor

Young girl who befriends Iola during her school days.

Mr. Gundover

minor

Also known as Gundover, ole Gundover, Ole Gundover

Wealthy planter who buys slaves and treats them harshly.

Mrs. Cloten

minor

Southern woman who shelters Iola after her escape.

Uncle Ben Tunnel

minor

Also known as Uncle Ben, Ben Tunnel, Ben

Former slave who helps Union soldiers navigate the countryside.

John Andrews

minor

Also known as John, Andrews

Union soldier who fights alongside Robert Johnson.

Camille Lecroix

minor

Also known as Camille

French Creole woman who befriends Iola at school.

Colonel Robinson

minor

Also known as Col. Robinson

Union officer who commands a regiment of black soldiers.

Mr. Galen

minor

Northern abolitionist who helps Iola find her family.

Mam Liza

minor

Also known as Mammy Liza, mammy, Mammy

Elderly former slave who works as a nurse and caretaker.

Hon. Dugdale

minor

Northern politician who supports abolition and Reconstruction.

Uncle Jack

minor

Also known as Jack

Former slave who works as a handyman on the plantation.

Mr. Bascom

minor

Northern teacher who employs Iola at a school.

Harriet

minor

Young enslaved girl who escapes with the Union army.

Miss Anna

minor

Also known as Arter Miss Anna, Arter

White woman who teaches Iola as a child.

Job

minor

Also known as Uncle Job

Elderly former slave who works on the plantation.

Augustine

minor

Also known as Henri Augustine

French Creole who interacts with Iola's family.

Gilbert Haven

minor

Also known as Robert

White abolitionist who supports Robert Johnson's work.

Alf

minor

Young enslaved boy who runs errands for the Union soldiers.

Mr. Cloten

minor

Southern man who helps Iola after her escape.

Mr. Forest

minor

Northern businessman who employs Iola's brother Harry.

Mrs. Stillman

minor

Southern woman who shelters Iola during the war.

Professor Langhorne

minor

Northern educator who teaches at the school where Iola works.

Jinny

minor

Young enslaved girl on the plantation.

Professor Gradnor

minor

Northern teacher who helps Iola find employment.

Aunt Kizzy

minor

Also known as Poor ole Kizzy

Elderly former slave who suffers under slavery.

Mr. Waterman

minor

Northern abolitionist who helps Iola's family.

Mr. Stillman

minor

Southern man who shelters Iola during the war.

Grandmother Johnson

minor

Robert Johnson's elderly grandmother, a former slave.

Mr. Thurston

minor

Northern minister who supports the freedmen's cause.

Frank Anderson

minor

Also known as Frank

Tom Anderson's brother, who also joins the Union army.

Uncle Jake

minor

Elderly former slave who works on the plantation.

Bishop Tunster

minor

Also known as Tunster

Northern bishop who supports the African American church.

Colonel Shaw

minor

Also known as Colonel

Union officer who commands a black regiment.

Marse Eugene

minor

Slaves' respectful term for Eugene Leroy.

Rev. Cantnor

minor

Also known as Cantnor

White minister who preaches to the slaves.

Rev. Eustace

minor

White minister who supports the Confederacy.

Mirandy

minor

Young enslaved girl on the plantation.

Alexander Sergevitch

minor

Russian nobleman who visits the Leroy plantation.

Massa Parker

minor

Also known as Massa

Slave owner who appears in Uncle Daniel's story.