Character guide

Philip Carey

major

Also known as Philip, Mr. Carey, Carey, Philip Carey, Master Philip

A club-footed orphan who pursues art and medicine while seeking meaning in life.

Mildred Rogers

major

Also known as Mildred, Milly

A waitress who becomes Philip's obsessive love interest, often cruel and manipulative.

Sally Athelny

supporting

Also known as Sally

The eldest daughter of the Athelny family, who becomes a steady presence in Philip's life.

Miss Wilkinson

supporting

Also known as Miss Wilkinson

A flirtatious governess who has an affair with young Philip at Blackstable.

Cronshaw

supporting

Also known as Monsieur Cronshaw, J. Cronshaw

A cynical, alcoholic poet who influences Philip's artistic circle in Paris.

Norah Nesbit

supporting

Also known as Norah

A kind, independent writer who becomes Philip's lover after Mildred leaves him.

Hayward

supporting

Also known as G. Etheridge Hayward

An aesthetic, well-read friend of Philip who debates art and life with him.

Frederick Lawson

supporting

Also known as Mr. Lawson, Lawson

A painter and close friend of Philip during his Paris years.

Griffiths

supporting

Also known as Mr. Griffiths

A charming medical student who becomes Philip's friend and later rival for Mildred.

Mrs. Carey

supporting

Also known as Louisa, Aunt Louisa

Philip's kind, religious aunt who raises him after his mother's death.

Mrs. Athelny

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Athelny

The warm, maternal wife of Thorpe Athelny and mother of many children.

Miss Price

supporting

Also known as Fanny Price, Fanny, Price

A struggling art student in Paris who becomes desperate and tragically ends her life.

Clutton

supporting

Also known as Mr. Clutton

A talented but reclusive painter in Philip's Paris circle, fiercely independent.

Dunsford

supporting

A friendly, simple medical student who shares lodgings with Philip.

Weeks

supporting

An American expatriate and friend of Philip in Paris, known for his intellectual debates.

Thorpe Athelny

supporting

Also known as Athelny, Mr. Athelny

A bohemian, talkative man who works as a traveling salesman and befriends Philip.

Mrs. Otter

minor

A landlady in Paris who rents rooms to Philip and other art students.

Mr. Perkins

minor

Also known as Perkins

The headmaster of King's School at Tercanbury, who mentors Philip.

Mary Ann

minor

Also known as Anna

A servant in the Carey household at Blackstable.

Leonard Upjohn

minor

Also known as Upjohn

A pretentious writer who takes an interest in Cronshaw's poetry.

Josiah Graves

minor

The churchwarden at Blackstable, often in conflict with Mr. Carey.

Fräulein Cäcilie

minor

Also known as Cäcilie

A German girl at Frau Erlin's pension who flirts with Philip.

Mr. Flanagan

minor

Also known as Flanagan

An American medical student and friend of Philip in London.

Macalister

minor

A Scottish stockbroker who introduces Philip to speculation.

Doctor South

minor

A gruff, elderly doctor who employs Philip as an assistant in Dorset.

Miguel Ajuria

minor

Also known as The Spaniard, Miguel

A Spanish painter in Paris, part of Philip's artistic circle.

Frau Professor Erlin

minor

Also known as Professor Erlin, Frau Erlin

The stern proprietress of a pension in Heidelberg where Philip stays.

Sampson

minor

Also known as Mr. Sampson

A buyer at Lynn's department store where Philip works briefly.

Albert Price

minor

Fanny Price's brother, who appears after her death.

Emil Miller

minor

Also known as Emil, Miller

A German student at Heidelberg who befriends Philip.

Ruth Chalice

minor

Also known as Miss Chalice, Chalice

A bohemian art student in Paris who models for painters.

Mrs. Foster

minor

The housekeeper at the vicarage in Blackstable.

Singer

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Emma

minor

Philip's devoted nurse during his childhood at Blackstable.

Monsieur Ducroz

minor

A French painter and teacher at the art school in Paris.

Miss Bennett

minor

A friend of Aunt Louisa in Blackstable.

Mrs. Hodges

minor

Also known as Hodges

The landlady of Philip's lodgings in London.

Miss Alice Antonia

minor

Also known as Miss Antonia, Alice

An eccentric old woman who lodges at the same house as Philip in Paris.

Herbert Carter

minor

Also known as Mr. Herbert Carter, Mr. Carter, Carter

A clerk at the accounting firm where Philip works briefly.

Sung

minor

Also known as Herr Sung

A Chinese student at Heidelberg, part of Philip's circle.

Mr. Goodworthy

minor

Also known as Goodworthy

A senior clerk at the accounting firm where Philip works.

Erb

minor

A German student at Heidelberg, known for his drinking.

Fräulein Hedwig

minor

A pretty German girl at Frau Erlin's pension.

Jacobs

minor

Also known as Mr. Jacobs

A buyer at Lynn's department store.

Winks

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Fräulein Anna

minor

Also known as Anna

A German girl at Frau Erlin's pension, sister of Fräulein Cäcilie.

Mr. Turner

minor

Also known as Turner

A fellow clerk at the accounting firm.

Mr. Gordon

minor

Also known as Gordon

A fellow clerk at the accounting firm.

Sharp

minor

A fellow clerk at the accounting firm who leaves before Philip.

William Carey

minor

Also known as The Rev. William Carey, William, Uncle William

Philip's stern, religious uncle who raises him after his mother's death.

Dr. Wigram

minor

The local doctor in Blackstable who attends the Carey family.

Miss Watkin

minor

Also known as Henrietta Watkin, Henrietta

A friend of Aunt Louisa in Blackstable.

Mr. Gibbons

minor

A master at King's School, Tercanbury.

Mr. Kingsford

minor

Also known as Kingsford

A master at King's School, Tercanbury.

Harris

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Ramsden

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Jane

minor

A servant in the Athelny household.

Thekla

minor

Also known as Fräulein Thekla

A German girl at Frau Erlin's pension.

Chandler

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Rice

minor

Also known as Mr. Rice

A buyer at Lynn's department store.

Newson

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Mrs. Fletcher

minor

A patient of Doctor South in Dorset.

Miss Graves

minor

The sister of Josiah Graves in Blackstable.

Mr. Graves

minor

A relative of Josiah Graves in Blackstable.

Mrs. Watson

minor

A patient of Doctor South in Dorset.

Venning

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Mrs. Black

minor

A patient of Doctor South in Dorset.

Dr. Fleming

minor

A doctor at St. Luke's Hospital in London.

Emily

minor

Also known as Aunt Emily

Philip's aunt by marriage, mentioned briefly.

Gravier

minor

A French painter in Paris, part of Philip's circle.

Aunt Elizabeth

minor

Also known as Betty

An aunt of Philip's mother, mentioned in his childhood.

Athelstan

minor

One of the Athelny sons.

Edward Manning

minor

Also known as Edward

A friend of Philip from his Paris days.

Onkel Heinrich

minor

Also known as Heinrich

An uncle of the German students at Heidelberg.

Albert Nixon

minor

Also known as Albert, Nixon

A fellow clerk at the accounting firm.

Mr. Nixon

minor

The senior partner at the accounting firm.

Mrs. Hill

minor

A patient of Doctor South in Dorset.

Lucy Otter

minor

The daughter of Mrs. Otter in Paris.

Potter

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Mr. Simmonds

minor

A patient of Doctor South in Dorset.

Cooper

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.

Holden

minor

A medical student and friend of Philip at St. Luke's.