Character guide

Philip Quarles

major

Also known as Philip, Phil, Little Phil, Take Philip Quarles

A novelist and intellectual, central to the novel's exploration of ideas and relationships.

Walter Bidlake

major

Also known as Walter, Bidlake, Walt Whitman

A sensitive young writer torn between his mistress and his wife.

Elinor Quarles

major

Also known as Elinor, Elinor Bidlake, Nellie Wallace

Philip's wife, struggling with her marriage and her own desires.

Spandrell

major

Also known as Maurice Spandrell, Maurice, Mr. Spandrell

A cynical and destructive figure who seeks meaning through violence.

Lucy Tantamount

major

Also known as Lucy, Tantamount, Dear Lucy

A beautiful and amoral socialite who toys with men's affections.

John Bidlake

supporting

Also known as Bidlake, old John, old Bidlake

A famous painter and Walter's father, a domineering patriarch.

Everard Webley

supporting

Also known as Webley, Everard, Mr. Everard Webley

A charismatic fascist leader who becomes a rival for Lucy's attention.

Marjorie Carling

supporting

Also known as Carling, Marjorie, Maggie

Walter's devoted but unhappy mistress, pregnant with his child.

Mark Rampion

supporting

Also known as Rampion, Mark

A painter who embodies a philosophy of natural, integrated living.

Illidge

supporting

Also known as Frank Illidge, Francis, Young Illidge

A young scientist and follower of Spandrell, involved in radical politics.

Dennis Burlap

supporting

Also known as Burlap, Denis, Denis Burlap

A literary editor and publisher, a hypocritical and self-serving figure.

Beatrice Gilray

supporting

Also known as Beatrice

A young woman who becomes involved with Walter and later Spandrell.

Susan Paley

supporting

Also known as Susan, Burlap poor Susan

Burlap's wife, a fragile and religious woman who commits suicide.

Sidney Quarles

supporting

Also known as Sidney, Rachel, poor Rachel

Philip's father, a failed writer and philanderer.

Old Mr. Quarles

minor

Also known as Mr. Quarles, Quarles, the deplorable Mr. Quarles

Philip's grandfather, a senile and lecherous old man.

Lord Edward Tantamount

supporting

Also known as Lord Edward, Edward, a Tantamount

Lucy's father, a wealthy and eccentric scientist.

Lady Edward Tantamount

minor

Also known as Lady Edward, Edward

Lucy's mother, a society hostess.

Miss Fulkes

minor

Also known as XIV Miss Fulkes, poor Miss Fulkes

The Quarles family governess, devoted to the children.

Mary Rampion

minor

Also known as Mary, Rampion

Mark Rampion's wife, a supportive and practical partner.

Gladys Helmsley

minor

Also known as Gladys

A young woman who works for Burlap and becomes his mistress.

Mrs. Quarles

minor

Sidney Quarles's wife and Philip's mother.

Mrs. Bidlake

minor

Also known as Bidlake

John Bidlake's wife and Walter's mother.

Polly Logan

minor

Also known as Polly

A young American woman who has an affair with Walter.

Willie Weaver

minor

Also known as Weaver, Willie

A young man who works for Burlap and is in love with Beatrice.

Miss Cobbett

minor

A secretary at Burlap's publishing house.

Mrs. Betterton

minor

Also known as Dear Mrs. Betterton

A friend of the Tantamounts, a society figure.

Mrs. Knoyle

minor

Also known as Poor Mrs. Knoyle

A widow and friend of the Quarles family.

Ethel Cobbett

minor

Also known as Ethel

Miss Cobbett's sister, a minor character.

Cuthbert Arkwright

minor

Also known as Cuthbert, Arkwright

A young man who works for Burlap.

General Knoyle

minor

Also known as the General, General

Mrs. Knoyle's late husband, a military man.

Hilda Sutton

minor

Also known as Hilda

A friend of Elinor's, a minor character.

Dr. Crowther

minor

A doctor who treats Marjorie.

Hugo Brockle

minor

Also known as Hugo, Hughie

A friend of the Tantamounts, a minor aristocrat.

Harriet Watkins

minor

Also known as Harriet, Poor little Harriet

A young woman who works for Burlap.

Mr. Chivers

minor

Also known as Chivers

A clerk at Burlap's publishing house.

Janet Bidlake

minor

Also known as Janet

John Bidlake's daughter and Walter's sister.

Mary Betterton

minor

Also known as Mary, Polly

Mrs. Betterton's daughter, a minor character.

Peter Slipe

minor

Also known as Slipe, Peter

A wine merchant and friend of the Quarles family.

Young Tolley

minor

Also known as Tolley

A young man who appears at a party.

Fanny Logan

minor

Polly Logan's mother.

Mrs. Logan

minor

Polly Logan's grandmother.

Jenny Smith

minor

Also known as Jenny, the real Jenny

A young woman who works for Burlap.

Sbisa

minor

Also known as old Sbisa, Old Sbisa

An old servant of the Quarles family.

Reggie Wright

minor

Also known as Reggie

A young man who appears at a party.

Nurse Butler

minor

A nurse who cares for old Mr. Quarles.

Isabel Jukes

minor

Also known as Isabel, Bella Jukes

A young woman who appears at a party.

Romola Saville

minor

Also known as Dear Miss Saville, Miss Saville

A friend of the Tantamounts.

Janet Paston

minor

Also known as Jenny

A young woman who appears at a party.

Wetherington

minor

Also known as poor Wetherington, Mrs. Wetherington

A minor character, a friend of the Quarles family.

Charles Barry

minor

Also known as Barry, Charles, Charlie

An architect, a minor character.

Geoffrey

minor

Also known as Jeff, Poor Geoffrey

A friend of Spandrell's, a minor character.

Mrs. Felpham

minor

A minor character, a friend of the Quarles family.

Rachel Quarles

minor

Sidney Quarles's first wife, deceased before the novel begins.

Lord Gattenden

minor

Also known as Gattenden

A minor aristocrat, a friend of the Tantamounts.

Rose

minor

A maid in the Quarles household.

Dobbs

minor

A servant in the Quarles household.

Eileen

minor

A young woman who appears at a party.

Norah

minor

A young woman who appears at a party.

Tim

minor

Also known as Poor Tim

A young man who appears at a party.

Mr. Stokes

minor

Also known as Old Mr. Stokes, Old Stokes

An elderly neighbor of the Quarles family.

Eric

minor

Also known as darling Eric

A young man who appears at a party.

Mr. Babbage

minor

A minor character, a friend of the Tantamounts.

Mrs. Cole

minor

A minor character, a friend of the Quarles family.

Major Knoyle

minor

General Knoyle's son, a minor character.

Young Lord Wonersh

minor

Also known as Lord Wonersh

A minor aristocrat, a friend of the Tantamounts.

Mrs. Inman

minor

Also known as old Mrs. Inman

An elderly neighbor of the Quarles family.

Dr. Fisher

minor

Also known as Old Dr. Fisher, Poor Dr. Fisher

A doctor who treats old Mr. Quarles.

Hilda Tantamount

minor

Also known as Hilda

Lord Edward's sister, a minor character.

Uncle John

minor

A relative of the Quarles family, mentioned in passing.

Tom Trivet

minor

Also known as Tom

A minor character, a friend of the Quarles family.

Daulat Singh

minor

An Indian prince, a minor character at a party.

Simmons

minor

A servant in the Quarles household.

Harry Markham

minor

Also known as Harry

A young man who appears at a party.

Miss Hignett

minor

A minor character, a friend of the Quarles family.

Mr. E. W.

minor

Also known as E.

A minor character, a friend of the Tantamounts.