Character guide

Jacob Flanders

major

Also known as Jacob, Poor Jacob, Jacob Alan Flanders, Flanders

The central character, a young man from Cornwall whose life and relationships are traced from childhood to adulthood.

Betty Flanders

supporting

Also known as Betty, Elizabeth Flanders, Lizzie, Elizabeth, Mrs. Flanders

Jacob's widowed mother, who lives in Cornwall and corresponds with her sons.

Clara Durrant

supporting

Also known as Clara, Miss Clara

A refined young woman from a wealthy family, a friend and romantic interest of Jacob.

Fanny Elmer

supporting

Also known as Fanny, poor Fanny Elmer

An artist's model who becomes Jacob's lover in London.

Florinda

supporting

A young woman with whom Jacob has a passionate but brief affair in London.

Richard Bonamy

supporting

Also known as Bonamy, Mr. Bonamy, Poor old Bonamy, Dick Bonamy

Jacob's close friend and fellow Cambridge graduate, who later shares a London flat with him.

Timmy Durrant

supporting

Also known as Timmy Durrant, Durrant, Timmy, Timothy Durrant, Timothy

Clara's brother and Jacob's friend from Cambridge.

Sandra Wentworth Williams

supporting

Also known as Sandra, Williams

A sophisticated married woman who has an affair with Jacob during his travels in Greece.

Mrs. Durrant

minor

Clara and Timmy's mother, a society hostess in London.

Evan Williams

minor

Also known as Evan

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge, who later travels abroad.

Julia Eliot

minor

Also known as Miss Eliot, elderly Miss Eliot, Miss Julia Eliot, Eliot

An elderly family friend of the Flanders and Durrants.

Mrs. Wentworth Williams

minor

Also known as Mrs. Williams

Sandra's mother-in-law, who travels with the couple.

Mr. Floyd

minor

Also known as old Mr. Floyd, Dear Mr. Floyd, poor Mr. Floyd

A clergyman who tutors Jacob and later proposes to Betty Flanders.

Cruttendon

minor

Also known as Teddy, Edward Cruttendon, Edward, Ted

An artist friend of Jacob's in London and Paris.

Mrs. Jarvis

minor

A neighbor of the Flanders family in Cornwall.

Captain Barfoot

minor

Also known as old Barfoot

A retired sea captain and friend of the Flanders family.

Nick Bramham

minor

Also known as Bramham, Nick

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge, later a barrister.

Archer Flanders

minor

Also known as Archer

Jacob's younger brother.

Jinny Carslake

minor

Also known as Miss Jinny Carslake, Jinny, Miss Carslake, Carslake

An acquaintance of Jacob's in London society.

Mrs. Pascoe

minor

A woman who keeps a lodging house in Cornwall.

Mr. Bowley

minor

Also known as Bowley, kind Mr. Bowley

An elderly gentleman who visits the Flanders family.

Mrs. Norman

minor

A woman who meets Jacob on a train journey.

Miss Marchmont

minor

An elderly lady who lives in the same boarding house as Jacob in London.

Charlotte Wilding

minor

Also known as Charlotte

A young woman who attends a party with Jacob and his friends.

Mrs. Papworth

minor

The landlady of Jacob's London lodgings.

Julia Hedge

minor

Also known as Miss Julia Hedge

A feminist scholar Jacob encounters at the British Museum.

Charles Steele

minor

Also known as Steele

An artist who paints a portrait of Betty Flanders.

Mr. Salvin

minor

A friend of the Durrant family.

Miss Perry

minor

Also known as toady Miss Perry, old Miss Perry

A gossipy elderly woman in Cornwall.

Elsbeth Siddons

minor

Also known as Elsbeth

A young woman Jacob meets at a party in London.

Erasmus Cowan

minor

Also known as Cowan

A Cambridge don who tutors Jacob.

Mr. Wortley

minor

Also known as the courtly Mr. Wortley

A gentleman who attends social gatherings with the Durrants.

Ellen Barfoot

minor

Captain Barfoot's wife, an invalid.

Rebecca

minor

A servant in the Flanders household.

Seabrook Flanders

minor

Also known as Seabrook

Jacob's deceased father, mentioned in memories.

Johnny Flanders

minor

Also known as Johnny

Jacob's younger brother.

Sopwith

minor

Also known as Mr. Sopwith

A Cambridge don who hosts gatherings for students.

Mr. Clutterbuck

minor

A friend of the Durrant family.

Lady Rocksbier

minor

A society hostess in London.

Mallinson

minor

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge.

Professor Huxtable

minor

Also known as Old Professor Huxtable

An elderly Cambridge professor.

Rose Shaw

minor

Also known as Shaw

A society woman who appears at parties.

Miss Rosseter

minor

A woman who attends a dinner party with Jacob.

Laurette

minor

A French woman Jacob meets in Paris.

Masham

minor

A friend of the Durrant family.

Curnow

minor

Also known as poor Mr. Curnow, The boy Curnow

A local boy who works for the Flanders family in Cornwall.

Lady Hibbert

minor

Also known as old Lady Hibbert

An elderly society lady.

Miss Edwards

minor

A woman who attends a party with Jacob.

Mr. Sanders

minor

Also known as Sanders

A friend of the Durrant family.

Mr. Calthorp

minor

Also known as Calthorp

A young man who attends parties with Jacob.

Helen Askew

minor

Also known as Helen

A young woman Jacob meets in London.

Mrs. Plumer

minor

A woman who keeps a boarding house in London.

Mrs. Barfoot

minor

Captain Barfoot's wife.

Little John

minor

Also known as John, Jackie

A young boy in Cornwall.

Madame Lucien Grave

minor

A French woman Jacob meets in Paris.

Mr. Flanders

minor

Jacob's father, mentioned as deceased.

Silvia Rashleigh

minor

Also known as Sylvia

A young woman who appears at a party.

Mr. Pilcher

minor

A friend of the Flanders family.

Magdalen

minor

A woman mentioned in passing at Cambridge.

Mangin

minor

A friend of Jacob's in Paris.

Lady Charles

minor

A society hostess.

Mr. Benson

minor

Also known as Benson

A friend of the Durrant family.

Andrew Floyd

minor

Also known as the Rev. Andrew Floyd

A clergyman, possibly related to Mr. Floyd.

Mother Stuart

minor

Also known as Stuart

A woman who runs a boarding house.

Mr. Burley

minor

A man who appears at a party.

Countess Lucy

minor

A titled woman mentioned in society.

Fraser

minor

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge.

Milly Edwards

minor

A young woman who appears at a party.

Morty

minor

A friend of the Flanders family.

Mrs. Garfit

minor

Also known as Garfit

A woman in Cornwall.

Edwin Mallett

minor

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge.

Hilda Thomas

minor

Also known as Mrs. Hilda Thomas, Mrs. Thomas

A woman who appears at a party.

Old Jevons

minor

An elderly man in Cornwall.

Evelina

minor

A woman mentioned in passing.

Mrs. Duggan

minor

A woman in Cornwall.

Mrs. Page

minor

A woman who appears at a party.

Captain Boase

minor

Also known as Captain George Boase

A sea captain known to the Flanders family.

Herbert Turner

minor

Also known as Herbert

A young man who appears at a party.

Mr. Erskine

minor

A man who appears at a party.

Edward Whittaker

minor

Also known as Whittaker

A friend of Jacob's from Cambridge.

Mr. Carter

minor

Also known as Carter

A man who appears at a party.

Nelly Jenkinson

minor

A woman mentioned in passing.

Tom Grandage

minor

A young man who appears at a party.

Miss Thomas

minor

A woman who appears at a party.