Character guide

Selina DeJong

major

Also known as Selina, Selina Peake, Miss Peake, Miss Selina Peake

A determined young woman who becomes a teacher and later a farmer's wife in the High Prairie region.

Dirk DeJong

major

Also known as Dirk, DeJong

Selina's son, a sensitive and artistic young man who struggles with his family's expectations.

Dallas O'Mara

major

Also known as Miss O'Mara, Miss Dallas O'Mara

A vibrant and independent woman who becomes a close friend and romantic interest to Dirk.

Roelf Pool

supporting

Also known as Roelf, Pool, Little Roelf Pool

A talented and ambitious young man from a poor farming family who becomes a sculptor.

Pauline

supporting

Also known as Paula, Paula Arnold, Paula Storm

Selina's beautiful and somewhat frivolous friend who marries into wealth.

Pervus DeJong

supporting

Also known as DeJong, Pervus, Mrs. Pervus DeJong

Selina's husband, a stoic and hardworking Dutch farmer on the High Prairie.

Julie Hempel

supporting

Also known as Julie, Julie Hempel Arnold, Arnold, Julie Arnold

Selina's wealthy and sophisticated friend from her school days in Chicago.

Maartje Pool

minor

Also known as Maartje, Pool

Roelf's mother, a hardworking and traditional Dutch farm woman.

Klaas Pool

minor

Also known as Klaas, Mrs. Pool, old Klaas Pool

Roelf's father, a stern and conservative Dutch farmer.

Mattie Schwengauer

minor

Also known as Mattie, Pat

A neighbor girl on the prairie who becomes a friend to Selina.

Adam Ooms

minor

Also known as Ooms, Adam

A young man from the Dutch community who courts Selina briefly.

August Hempel

minor

Also known as Hempel, old August Hempel, Aug, Old Aug Hempel

Julie's wealthy and domineering father, a Chicago business magnate.

Simeon Peake

minor

Also known as Simeon

Selina's father, a cultured and somewhat impractical dreamer.

Widow Paarlenberg

minor

Also known as The Widow Paarlenberg, Paarlenberg

A wealthy widow in the Dutch community who takes an interest in Selina.

Chris Spanknoebel

minor

Also known as Chris, Spanknoebel

A hired hand on the DeJong farm who becomes a friend to the family.

Theodore A. Storm

minor

Also known as Teddy, Theodore Storm, Storm

A wealthy young man who marries Pauline and becomes a patron of the arts.

Eugene Arnold

minor

Also known as Eugene, Gene

Julie's husband, a successful but somewhat dull businessman.

Sobig DeJong

minor

Also known as Sobig, Little Sobig DeJong

Selina and Pervus's younger son, who dies tragically in childhood.

Johannes Ambuul

minor

Also known as old Johannes, Ambuul

An elderly neighbor on the prairie who tells stories of the old country.

Goris Von Vuuren

minor

Also known as Von Vuuren, Goris

A fat and jovial Dutch farmer in the community.

Jakob Hoogendunk

minor

Also known as Hoogendunk, Jakob, old Jakob

An old Dutch farmer known for his stubbornness.

Leendert Paarlenberg

minor

The son of the Widow Paarlenberg, a young man in the community.

Mabel

minor

A young woman who works as a maid in the Hempel household.

Jozina Pool

minor

Also known as Jozina

Roelf's sister, a quiet and dutiful farm girl.

Geertje Pool

minor

Also known as Geertje Pool Vander Sijde

Another sister of Roelf who marries and moves away.

General Emile Goguet

minor

Also known as General Goguet, Emile Goguet

A French general and art collector who befriends Roelf in Paris.

Michael Arnold

minor

Also known as Michael, Mike

Julie and Eugene's son, a friend of Dirk's from childhood.

Meena Bras

minor

Also known as Meena

A young woman from the Dutch community who works as a servant.

Miss Fister

minor

A strict schoolteacher in the prairie community.

Jan Snip

minor

Also known as Jan

A Dutch farmer and neighbor on the prairie.

Reverend Dekker

minor

Also known as Dekker, The Reverend Dekker

The minister of the Dutch Reformed church in the community.

Barend DeRoo

minor

Also known as DeRoo

A Dutch farmer known for his large family.

Phil Emery

minor

Also known as Phillip Emery, Phillip

A young man from Chicago who becomes a friend of Dirk's.

Ethelinda Quinn

minor

Also known as Miss Quinn, Miss Ethelinda Quinn

A teacher at the school where Selina works.

Mrs. Tebbitt

minor

Also known as Tebbitt

A neighbor woman on the prairie who helps Selina.

Pom

minor

Also known as the DeJong dog Pom

The DeJong family dog, a loyal companion on the farm.

Mrs. Emery

minor

Also known as Emery

Phil Emery's mother, a society woman in Chicago.

Peter Peel

minor

Also known as Peel

A young man from the Dutch community who courts Mattie.

Bert Colson

minor

Also known as Colson, Bert

A friend of Dirk's from his time in Chicago.

Mrs. Vander Sijde

minor

Also known as Vander Sijde

A neighbor woman who marries into the Pool family.

Kitty Blanchard

minor

Also known as Katrina, Big Kate

A large and boisterous woman who works as a cook.

Gerrit Pon

minor

Also known as Gerrit

A Dutch farmer in the community.

Jan Bras

minor

Also known as One Jan Bras, Bras

A Dutch farmer and neighbor.

Cornelia Vinke

minor

Also known as Cornelia, Helen

A young woman from the Dutch community.

Miss Lodge

minor

A teacher at the school where Selina works.

Mrs. Hempel

minor

August Hempel's wife and Julie's mother.

Cornelius Van der Bilt

minor

Also known as Cornelius

A wealthy businessman and friend of the Hempel family.

Aggie Vander Sijde

minor

Also known as Aggie, Vander Sijde

A young woman from the Dutch community.

Mrs. Arnold

minor

Eugene Arnold's mother, a society matron.

Adam Bras

minor

Also known as Adam

A young man from the Dutch community.

Captain Stokes-Beatty

minor

An English officer who appears briefly in the story.