The Dark Forest · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Dark Forest by Hugh Walpole.
Unknown Narrator
major
Also known as I, myself, me
The first-person narrator and focal character, a Russian soldier in the medical unit.
John Trenchard
major
Also known as Mr. Trenchard, Trenchard, Millie Trenchard, Millie, John, Katherine Trenchard, Katherine
An Englishman serving with the Russian medical unit, central to the plot and relationships.
Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov
major
Also known as Semyonov, Alexei Petrovitch, Alexei
A doctor and key figure in the unit, involved in complex personal and professional dynamics.
Marie Ivanovna
major
Also known as Sister Marie Ivanovna, Marie, Sister Marie, Sister
A nurse in the unit, central to the romantic and emotional tensions of the story.
Dr. Nikitin
supporting
Also known as Nikitin, IV Nikitin
A doctor in the medical unit, often clashing with others over duty and ethics.
Andrey Vassilievitch
supporting
Also known as Little Andrey Vassilievitch, Andrey, Poor Andrey
A young, excitable soldier under the narrator's care, deeply affected by the war.
The Otriad
supporting
Also known as Otriad, our Otriad, Petrogradsky Otriad
The medical detachment itself, treated as a collective character with its own identity.
Molozov
minor
A soldier or officer mentioned in the unit, possibly a patient or subordinate.
Mr. Durward
minor
Also known as Durward
An Englishman associated with Trenchard, appearing in the narrative.
Ivan Andreievitch
minor
Also known as Andreievitch
A character mentioned in the unit, possibly a patient or officer.
Doctor Semyonov
minor
Also known as Dr. Semyonov
Another doctor in the unit, possibly distinct from Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov.
Nikolai Nikolaievitch
minor
Also known as Nikolai
A soldier or officer in the unit, mentioned by name.
Russians
minor
Also known as Many Russians, the Russians, agitated Russians
Collective group of Russian soldiers or civilians in the narrative.
Anna Petrovna
minor
Also known as Sister Anna Petrovna, One Sister
A nurse in the unit, one of the sisters.
Piotr Ivanovitch
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
The Feldsher
minor
A medical assistant or paramedic in the unit.
Alexandra Pavlovna
minor
A woman mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or acquaintance.
Sofia Antonovna
minor
Also known as Sister Sofia Antonovna, Sister Sofia
A nurse in the unit, one of the sisters.
The Stout Doctor
minor
A doctor seen earlier in the narrative, possibly a recurring figure.
Sister K
minor
Also known as Sister K⸺
A nurse known for lacking tact, one of the sisters.
Goga
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or soldier.
Krylov
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
Captain T
minor
Also known as young Captain T⸺
A young captain in the unit, mentioned by name.
Anna Mihailovna
minor
A woman mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or acquaintance.
Victor Leontievitch
minor
Also known as Victor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
Georg Georgevitch
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
Vladimir Stepanovitch
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
Colonel Maximoff
minor
Also known as Maximoff
A colonel in the Russian army, mentioned in the narrative.
Gussie Rodgers
minor
Also known as Rodgers, Miss Gussie Rodgers
An Englishwoman associated with Trenchard, mentioned in the narrative.
Vulatch
minor
A character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or officer.
Ekaterina Petrovna
minor
Also known as Ekaterina
A woman mentioned in the narrative, possibly a patient or acquaintance.
