Character guide

Unknown Narrator

major

Also known as me, I, you

The first-person narrator and protagonist, a young man of letters.

Stella Musgrave

major

Also known as Stella, Stella Blagden, little Stella, the Musgrave

A beautiful and capricious woman, the narrator's cousin and love interest.

Bettie Hamlyn

major

Also known as Elizabeth Hamlyn, Lizzie, Lizzie d'Arlanges

A spirited young woman, friend of Stella and later the narrator's wife.

Peter Blagden

major

Also known as Mr. Blagden, Mr. Peter Blagden

A wealthy and cynical older man, Stella's eventual husband.

John Charteris

major

Also known as Charteris, Mr. Charteris

A witty and philosophical writer, friend and mentor to the narrator.

Rosalind Jemmett

supporting

Also known as Rosalind

A charming and intelligent young woman, a romantic interest of the narrator.

Elena Barry-Smith

supporting

Also known as Elena, Barry, Lena, Smith

A beautiful and enigmatic woman, involved in a complex romantic history.

Robin

supporting

Also known as Rob, Bobbie, Bob, Mr. Bob

A young man, friend of the narrator, often called Bobbie.

Jasper Hardress

supporting

Also known as Hardress, fat Jasper Hardress

A portly and pompous gentleman, a rival for Stella's affections.

Marian Winwood

supporting

Also known as Marian, Winwood

A young woman, friend of the narrator and part of his social circle.

Margaret Hugonin

supporting

Also known as Margaret, Hugonin, Margaret Elizabeth Anstruther Hugonin

A young woman from the narrator's past, a childhood sweetheart.

Robert Etheridge Townsend

supporting

Also known as Townsend, Mr. Townsend, Robert Townsend, Robert

A friend of the narrator, a young man from a prominent family.

Avis Beechinor

supporting

Also known as Avis, dear Avis, Avis M. Beechinor

A young woman, friend of Bettie and part of the social set.

Miss Montmorenci

supporting

Also known as Miss Annabelle Alys Montmorenci

An actress and singer, a performer in the play at Fairhaven.

George Bulmer

supporting

Also known as Mr. George Bulmer, Mr. Bulmer, Uncle George

The narrator's uncle, a gruff but kind-hearted man.

Lizzie Musgrave

supporting

Also known as Lizzie

Stella's younger sister, a quiet and observant girl.

Gillian Hardress

supporting

Also known as Hardress, the Hardress

Jasper Hardress's wife, a sharp-tongued and witty woman.

Mrs. Barry-Smith

minor

Also known as Smith

Elena's mother, a formidable and scheming woman.

Gladys

minor

Also known as Miss Gladys

A young woman, a friend of the narrator's sister.

Mrs. Hardress

minor

Jasper Hardress's mother, an elderly matriarch.

Jaques

minor

Also known as good Jaques

A servant at the narrator's home, a loyal and eccentric figure.

Mrs. Clement Dumby

minor

Also known as Mrs. Dumby

A gossipy and meddlesome society matron.

Old Capulet

minor

Also known as Signorina Capulet, Signorina

An elderly Italian woman, a former opera singer.

Helen

minor

Also known as Queen Helen

A beautiful woman, an object of the narrator's youthful infatuation.

Anne Charteris

minor

Also known as Anne, Charteris

John Charteris's wife, a quiet and supportive presence.

Ned Lethbury

minor

Also known as Lethbury, Teddy

A friend of the narrator, a young man about town.

Jack

minor

A friend of the narrator, part of his social circle.

Aunt Marcia

minor

The narrator's aunt, a kind and conventional woman.

Mrs. Vokins

minor

A housekeeper or servant in the narrator's household.

Amelia Van Orden

minor

Also known as young Amelia Van Orden

A young woman, a friend of the narrator's family.

Jill

minor

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Mrs. Adrian Rabbet

minor

Also known as Mrs. Rabbet, Adrian

A society woman, a friend of the narrator's mother.

Nadine Neroni

minor

Also known as the Neroni, Miss Nadine Neroni

A young woman, a friend of Bettie Hamlyn.

Alfred Van Orden

minor

Also known as Alfred

Amelia's brother, a young man.

Fairhaven

minor

A place, but personified as a character in the narrator's imagination.

Setebos

minor

A mythological figure, referenced as a symbol of raw nature.

Guendolen

minor

A woman from the narrator's past, a brief romantic interest.

Mrs. Gracchus

minor

Also known as Gracchus

A society matron, a friend of the narrator's mother.

Byam

minor

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Billy Woods

minor

Also known as Billy, Mrs. William Woods

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Clarriker

minor

Also known as Josiah Clarriker

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Warwick Risby

minor

Also known as Mrs. Risby, Mrs. Warwick Risby

A married couple, friends of the narrator's family.

Milo

minor

Also known as Miles Forman, Forman, Justus Miles Forman

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Professor Hamlyn

minor

Bettie's father, a scholarly man.

Celia Reindan

minor

Also known as Celia

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Arthur

minor

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Claire Bulmer Townsend

minor

Also known as Claire

Robert Townsend's wife, a friend of the narrator's family.

Alicia Wade

minor

Also known as Wade, Alice

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Mrs. Lethbury

minor

Ned Lethbury's mother, a society matron.

Colonel Snawley

minor

A retired military man, a friend of the narrator's uncle.

Dr. Jeal

minor

A local doctor, a friend of the narrator's family.

Nannie Allsotts

minor

Also known as Nannie

A servant in the narrator's household.

Colonel Grimshaw

minor

A retired military man, a friend of the narrator's uncle.

Jimmy Travis

minor

Also known as Jimmy

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Armitage

minor

Also known as Mr. Armitage

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Mrs. Beechinor

minor

Avis Beechinor's mother, a society matron.

Kathleen Eppes

minor

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Mr. Rabbet

minor

Mrs. Adrian Rabbet's husband, a quiet man.

Councillor von Hollwig

minor

Also known as the Councillor von Hollwig

A German diplomat, a friend of the narrator's family.

Mr. Havemeyer

minor

A friend of the narrator's uncle, a businessman.

Madame d'Arlanges

minor

Also known as Madame la Marquise

A French noblewoman, Bettie's aunt.

Agnes Faroy

minor

Also known as Agnes

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Dick Townsend

minor

Also known as Townsend

Robert Townsend's brother, a young man.

Aurelia Minns

minor

Also known as the once Aurelia Minns

A woman from the narrator's past, a brief romantic interest.

Mrs. Blagden

minor

Peter Blagden's mother, an elderly woman.

Mrs. Charteris

minor

John Charteris's mother, an elderly woman.

Tom Gelwix

minor

Also known as Tom

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Little Adey

minor

A young child, a relative of the narrator.

Pauline Ashmeade

minor

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Roderick King Hill

minor

Also known as King

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Francine

minor

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Judge Willoughby

minor

A local judge, a friend of the narrator's uncle.

Uncle Larry

minor

Also known as Larry

The narrator's uncle, a jovial man.

Mamie Taylors

minor

Also known as Polly

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Miss Jemmett

minor

Rosalind Jemmett's mother, a society matron.

Kittie Provis

minor

Also known as Kittie

A young woman, a friend of the narrator.

Theodore Passerat

minor

A friend of the narrator, a young man.

Amelia Lethbury

minor

Ned Lethbury's sister, a young woman.

Mr. Clarriker

minor

Josiah Clarriker's father, a businessman.