Character guide

Michael Fane

major

Also known as Charles Michael Saxby Fane, Master Michael, Saxby, young Fane

The protagonist, a sensitive and introspective young man navigating childhood, school, and Oxford.

Stella Cunningham

major

Also known as Lady Stella Cunningham, Darling Stella

Michael's great love, a beautiful and enigmatic woman who becomes his romantic ideal.

Lily Haden

major

Also known as April, Lily April, Lily Sonata

A captivating and tragic young woman who has a profound impact on Michael's life.

Maurice Avery

supporting

Also known as Avery

Michael's charismatic and worldly friend from Oxford who introduces him to new experiences.

Michael Garrod

supporting

Also known as Garrod, Micky Sullivan

A close friend and contemporary of Michael Fane at school and Oxford.

Mr. Lonsdale

supporting

Also known as Lonsdale, young Lonsdale

A schoolmaster at Michael's preparatory school who is both admired and feared.

Henry Barnes

supporting

Also known as Barnes, Mr. Barnes

A fellow student at Michael's preparatory school, later a friend at Oxford.

Mrs. Fane

supporting

Also known as Dear Mrs. Fane

Michael's mother, a loving but somewhat distant figure in his early life.

Guy Hazlewood

supporting

Also known as Hazlewood, old Guy

A school friend of Michael's, known for his good nature and loyalty.

Daisy Palmer

supporting

Also known as Palmer, May

A young woman who becomes involved with Michael during his Oxford years.

Sylvia Scarlett

supporting

Also known as Miss Sylvia Scarlett, Miss Sylvia

A spirited and unconventional young woman who befriends Michael.

Nurse

minor

Also known as Presently Nurse

Michael's childhood nurse, a constant and comforting presence in his early years.

Miss Carthew

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Ross, Dear Mrs. Ross

A kind and influential woman who provides guidance to Michael.

Nanny

minor

Also known as Annie, Nancy Carthew

A servant in the Fane household, later identified as Nancy Carthew.

Mark Chator

minor

Also known as Chator, old Chator

A schoolmaster at Michael's preparatory school, known for his eccentricity.

Joan Carthew

minor

Also known as Miss Joan Carthew, May Carthew

One of the Carthew sisters, a childhood friend of Michael.

Kenneth Michael

minor

Also known as Kenneth

A younger boy who looks up to Michael Fane.

Dolly Wearne

minor

Also known as Dora, Doll, the wretched Dolly

A tragic young woman from Michael's past in the slums.

Kathleen McDonnell

minor

Also known as Miss McDonnell, the elder Miss McDonnell

An acquaintance of Michael's family, part of his social circle.

Mr. Wedderburn

minor

Also known as Wedderburn

A master at Michael's public school, the Jacobean.

Venner

minor

Also known as old Venner

The proprietor of a lodging house in Oxford where Michael stays.

Arthur Wilmot

minor

Also known as Wilmot, Mr. Wilmot, Master Arthur

A flamboyant and artistic friend from Michael's Oxford circle.

Mrs. Gainsborough

minor

A society hostess who entertains Michael and his friends.

Henry Meats

minor

Also known as Mr. Henry Meats, Harry Meats

A friend and contemporary of Michael's at Oxford.

Arthur Drake

minor

Also known as Drake

A school friend of Michael's, part of his inner circle.

Mr. Viner

minor

Also known as Viner, old Viner

A master at the Jacobean, known for his strictness.

Poppy Carlyle

minor

Also known as Neptune Crescent

A young woman living in Neptune Crescent who attracts Michael's attention.

Mrs. Murdoch

minor

A landlady in London who lets rooms to Michael.

Mrs. Frith

minor

Also known as the late Mrs. Frith

A former servant in the Fane household, remembered by Michael.

Nigel Stewart

minor

Also known as Stewart

A student at Oxford, known for his athleticism and good looks.

Dick Prescott

minor

Also known as Prescott, poor Dick Prescott

A friend from Michael's school days, later a tragic figure.

Mrs. Haden

minor

Lily Haden's mother, a woman of questionable reputation.

Lord Saxby

minor

Also known as Saxby, Poor old Saxby

Michael's eccentric and impoverished aristocratic relative.

Mr. Neech

minor

Also known as old Neech

A local tradesman or character in Michael's childhood neighborhood.

Rodber

minor

Also known as young Rodber, the ubiquitous Rodber

A servant or college scout at Oxford who assists Michael.

Mr. Prescott

minor

Also known as Merivale, Mrs. Merivale

A schoolmaster and his wife who befriend Michael.

Mrs. Cleghorne

minor

Also known as Cleghorne

A landlady or local character in the slum areas Michael visits.

Mr. Walter Trimble

minor

Also known as Mr. Trimble, Trimble

A friend or acquaintance from Michael's Oxford days.

Prout

minor

Also known as Mr. Prout, poor Mr. Prout

A master at the Jacobean, often the butt of jokes.

Dr. Brownjohn

minor

Also known as Brownjohn, old Dr. Brownjohn

A local doctor who attends to Michael's family.

Frank Castleton

minor

Also known as Castleton, Mrs. Castleton

A friend from Michael's Oxford social set.

Mr. Caryll

minor

Also known as old Caryll, Caryll

An older gentleman who advises Michael on his career.

Brother Aloysius

minor

Also known as Brother, the late Brother Aloysius

A monk at the school Michael attends, with a dubious past.

Mr. Cray

minor

Also known as Cray, old Cray

A master at the Jacobean, known for his dullness.

Doris Haden

minor

Also known as Doris

Lily Haden's sister, a minor character in the Haden family drama.

Tommy Grainger

minor

Also known as Tom, Grainger, jolly old Tommy

A cheerful and loyal friend from Michael's school days.

Clarissa Vine

minor

Also known as Miss Clarissa Vine, Miss Vine

A young woman who is part of Michael's social circle.

Smithers

minor

Also known as harry Smithers

A servant or college servant at Oxford.

Dom Cuthbert Manners

minor

Also known as Cuthbert Manners, Manners

A Benedictine monk who becomes a spiritual influence on Michael.

Captain Kenneth Ross

minor

Also known as Captain Ross, Kenneth

A military man and acquaintance of the Carthew family.

Bill Mowbray

minor

Also known as Mowbray, ass Bill Mowbray

A boisterous friend from Michael's Oxford days.

Pauline Grey

minor

Also known as Pauline

A young woman who has a brief romantic entanglement with Michael.

Mother Wadman

minor

Also known as Mother, old Mother Wadman

An elderly woman who runs a lodging house.

Bert Saunders

minor

Also known as Hugh, Saunders

A working-class acquaintance of Michael's from his slum explorations.

George Ayliffe

minor

Also known as Ayliffe

A student at Oxford, known for his rowing prowess.

Mr. Alfred Murdoch

minor

Also known as Mr. Murdoch, Mister Murdoch

The husband of Mrs. Murdoch, a minor figure in London.

Hands

minor

Also known as cautious Hands, squeaky Hands

A college servant or scout at Oxford.

Lord Cleveden

minor

An aristocratic acquaintance of Michael's family.

Muriel

minor

A young woman briefly mentioned in Michael's social circle.

Norton

minor

A friend or acquaintance from Michael's Oxford days.

George Appleby

minor

Also known as The Honorable George Appleby, Appleby

An aristocratic undergraduate at Oxford.

Vernon Townsend

minor

Also known as Townsend

A writer or journalist who interacts with Michael.

Cuffe

minor

A servant or college porter at Oxford.

Mrs. Smith

minor

A generic name used for a landlady or minor character.

May Carthew

minor

Also known as Miss May Carthew, Marjorie

Another of the Carthew sisters, a childhood friend.

Madame Flauve

minor

Also known as Madame

A French woman who runs a lodging house in London.

Porcher

minor

A schoolboy at the Jacobean.

Buckley

minor

Also known as the objectionable Buckley

A disliked schoolboy at the Jacobean.

Carben

minor

Also known as That worm Carben

A contemptible schoolboy at the Jacobean.

Miss Harper

minor

A governess or teacher in Michael's early life.

Winnie

minor

Also known as Fred

Children from the slums that Michael encounters.

Mr. Lampard

minor

Also known as Lampard

A master at the Jacobean.

Aunt Maud

minor

Also known as Maud

Michael's aunt, a relative on his mother's side.

Rutherford

minor

Also known as the learned Rutherford

A scholar or don at Oxford.

Fitzroy

minor

Also known as Fitzroy the Varsity

An Oxford friend or sporting figure.

Raoul de Castéra-Verduzan

minor

Also known as Castéra-Verduzan, Verduzan

A French aristocrat and acquaintance of Michael's.

Mr. Vernon

minor

A master at the Jacobean.

Mr. Lodge

minor

A master at the Jacobean.

Templeton-Collins

minor

Also known as Mr. Templeton-Collins, Collins

A flamboyant Oxford undergraduate and friend of Maurice Avery.

John Venables

minor

Also known as Venables

A friend from Michael's Oxford days.

Miss Caroline Marrow

minor

Also known as Miss Marrow, Miss Caroline

A teacher at the school attended by the Carthew sisters.