Character guide

Sir Felix Carbury

major

Also known as Felix, Felix Carbury, Carbury, Sir Carbury

A handsome, dissolute baronet who pursues pleasure and fortune through marriage.

Augustus Melmotte

major

Also known as Mr. Melmotte, Melmotte, old Melmotte, the great Melmotte

A financier and speculator whose rise and fall drives much of the plot.

Marie Melmotte

major

Also known as Marie, Melmotte, poor Marie

The wealthy heiress daughter of Augustus Melmotte, sought after by fortune hunters.

Hetta Carbury

major

Also known as Hetta, Poor Hetta, young Carbury

The sensible and loving daughter of Lady Carbury, torn between suitors.

Paul Montague

major

Also known as Mr. Montague, Montague, Paul

A young man involved with the railway scheme and entangled with two women.

Roger Carbury

major

Also known as Mr. Carbury, Roger, the Carbury, Master Roger

The squire of Carbury Manor, a moral and steadfast gentleman in love with Hetta.

Lady Carbury

major

Also known as Carbury, a Lady Carbury, Dear Lady Carbury

A struggling widow and writer, desperate to secure her son's future.

Mrs. Hurtle

major

Also known as Hurtle, Winifred Hurtle, Dear Winifred

A passionate American widow with a mysterious past, pursuing Paul Montague.

Ruby Ruggles

supporting

Also known as Miss Ruby Ruggles, Ruby, Poor Ruby

A pretty, headstrong young woman who defies her grandfather for love.

Lord Nidderdale

supporting

Also known as Nidderdale, young Lord Nidderdale, Dear Lord Nidderdale

A young nobleman who courts Marie Melmotte for her fortune.

Dolly Longestaffe

supporting

Also known as Dolly, Longestaffe, a Longestaffe

A lazy, good-natured young man of fashion, heir to a fortune.

Georgiana Longestaffe

supporting

Also known as Georgiana, Miss Longestaffe, Miss Georgiana

A proud, marriage-minded daughter of the Longestaffe family.

Mr. Broune

supporting

Also known as Broune, Poor Mr. Broune, this Mr. Broune

A newspaper editor and suitor to Lady Carbury.

John Crumb

supporting

Also known as Mr. Crumb, Crumb, Poor Mr. Crumb

A rough but honest farmer in love with Ruby Ruggles.

Miles Grendall

supporting

Also known as Miles, Grendall, Mr. Grendall

A disreputable young man and hanger-on at the Beargarden club.

Lord Alfred Grendall

supporting

Also known as Lord Alfred, Alfred, old Grendall

An impoverished nobleman and father of Miles, living on credit.

Hamilton K. Fisker

supporting

Also known as Fisker, Mr. Fisker, Hamilton Fisker

An American entrepreneur who brings the railway scheme to London.

Mr. Bideawhile

supporting

Also known as Bideawhile, old Bideawhile, Slow and Bideawhile

A cautious lawyer involved in Melmotte's financial affairs.

Squercum

supporting

Also known as Mr. Squercum

A sharp solicitor employed by Dolly Longestaffe.

Lady Monogram

supporting

Also known as Georgiana, Dear Lady Monogram

A fashionable society hostess and friend to Lady Carbury.

Sir Damask Monogram

minor

Also known as Sir Damask, Damask

A wealthy baronet and husband of Lady Monogram.

Mr. Cohenlupe

supporting

Also known as Cohenlupe, Samuel Cohenlupe, Sam

A shady financier and associate of Melmotte.

Madame Melmotte

supporting

Also known as Melmotte, the Melmotte, Poor Madame Melmotte

The timid, foreign wife of Augustus Melmotte.

Lady Pomona Longestaffe

supporting

Also known as Lady Pomona, Pomona, poor Lady Pomona

The snobbish wife of Mr. Longestaffe, concerned with social standing.

Adolphus Longestaffe

supporting

Also known as Mr. Longestaffe, Longestaffe, old Mr. Longestaffe

A conservative country gentleman, father of Dolly and Georgiana.

Father Barham

minor

Also known as John Barham, Father John, the Rev. Mr. Barham

A Catholic priest and friend of Roger Carbury.

Mrs. Pipkin

minor

Also known as Pipkin, aunt Pipkin

Ruby Ruggles's aunt, who provides her lodging in London.

Ezekiel Brehgert

supporting

Also known as Brehgert, Mr. Brehgert, Herr Brehgert

A Jewish banker who proposes to Georgiana Longestaffe.

Lord Grasslough

minor

Also known as Grasslough, young Lord Grasslough

A young nobleman and member of the Beargarden club.

Mr. Ferdinand Alf

minor

Also known as Mr. Alf, Alf, Mr. Ferdinand Alf

A newspaper editor and rival to Mr. Broune.

Mr. Booker

minor

Also known as Dear Mr. Booker, poor Mr. Booker

A literary man and friend of Lady Carbury.

Herr Croll

minor

Also known as Croll, Mr. Croll

Melmotte's German clerk and confidant.

Herr Vossner

minor

Also known as Vossner, Herr

The steward of the Beargarden club.

Joe Mixet

minor

Also known as Mixet, Mr. Mixet

A radical politician and friend of John Crumb.

George Whitstable

minor

Also known as Mr. Whitstable, George, Mr. George Whitstable

A suitor to Ruby Ruggles, favored by her grandfather.

Elise Didon

minor

Also known as Didon, Madame Didon

Marie Melmotte's French maid and confidante.

Daniel Ruggles

minor

Also known as old Ruggles, Daniel Ruggles, Mr. Ruggles

Ruby's stern grandfather, a farmer in Suffolk.

Lady Julia Start

minor

Also known as Lady Julia

A friend of Lady Carbury, involved in charitable works.

Mr. Lupton

minor

Also known as Lupton, Lionel Lupton

A young man about town, member of the Beargarden.

Lord Buntingford

minor

Also known as Buntingford

A nobleman and member of Parliament.

Mr. Leadham

minor

Also known as Leadham

A publisher who works with Lady Carbury.

Mr. Batherbolt

minor

A clergyman who assists Lady Carbury.

Sir Patrick Carbury

minor

Also known as Sir Patrick, Sir Carbury

The deceased husband of Lady Carbury, often mentioned.

Mr. Goldsheiner

minor

Also known as young Mr. Goldsheiner, Goldsheiner

A young Jewish man who courts Georgiana Longestaffe.

Lady Julia Goldsheiner

minor

Also known as Julia, young Goldsheiner

Mother of Mr. Goldsheiner, a social climber.

Mr. Loiter

minor

Also known as Loiter

A member of the Beargarden club.

Mr. Ramsbottom

minor

A friend of Roger Carbury from Suffolk.

Mr. Hepworth

minor

Also known as Hepworth of Eardly

A neighbor of the Carburys in Suffolk.

Marquis of Auld Reekie

minor

Also known as Auld Reekie, The Marquis

An elderly Scottish nobleman and father of Lord Nidderdale.

Lord Frederic Framlinghame

minor

Also known as Lord Frederic, Frederic

A young aristocrat and friend of Lord Nidderdale.

Mr. Primero

minor

Also known as the Primero, old Primero

A neighbor of the Longestaffes in Suffolk.

Sir Gregory Gribe

minor

Also known as Sir Gregory

A baronet and member of Parliament.

Mr. Flatfleece

minor

Also known as Flatfleece

A stockbroker involved with Melmotte's schemes.

Mr. Wilson

minor

Also known as Wilson

A clerk in Melmotte's office.

Mr. Septimus Blake

minor

Also known as Mr. Blake

A clergyman who marries John Crumb and Ruby.

Caradoc Hurtle

minor

Also known as Caradoc Carson Hurtle

The deceased husband of Mrs. Hurtle, mentioned in backstory.

Mr. Splinter

minor

Also known as Old Splinter, old Splinter

An old friend of Roger Carbury.

Sir David Boss

minor

Also known as Sir David

A baronet and political figure.

Mr. Bumby

minor

A minor character at the Beargarden club.

Mrs. Buggins

minor

A woman who keeps a lodging house.

Matilda Carbury

minor

Also known as The Carbury

A relative of the Carbury family, mentioned briefly.

Lord De Griffin

minor

A nobleman mentioned in passing.

Mr. Brown

minor

Also known as Brown, poor Mr. Brown

A minor character, possibly a servant or tradesman.

Mrs. Fisker

minor

Also known as Fisker

The wife of Hamilton K. Fisker, who appears late in the novel.

Mrs. Yeld

minor

A friend of Lady Pomona Longestaffe.

Julia Triplex

minor

Also known as Julia

A young woman friend of the Longestaffe sisters.

Sophia Longestaffe

minor

Also known as Sophia, Sophy

The younger Longestaffe sister, who marries well.

Mrs. John Crumb

minor

Also known as Crumb, Mrs. Crumb

John Crumb's mother, a farmer's wife.

Mr. Smith

minor

Also known as Smith

A generic name used for a minor character.

Mr. Alf Jones

minor

Also known as Jones, Alf, Mr. Alf

A journalist and associate of Mr. Alf.

Mr. Todd

minor

Also known as Todd, old Todd

A neighbor in Suffolk.

Mr. Bungay

minor

Also known as Bungay

A publisher, rival to Mr. Leadham.

Beauchamp Beauclerk

minor

Also known as Mr. Beauclerk, Beauclerk

A fashionable young man about town.

Mr. Pickering

minor

Also known as Pickering

A man mentioned in connection with a property.

Mr. Caversham

minor

Also known as Caversham

The Longestaffe family estate, used metonymically.

Messrs. Leadham and Loiter

minor

Also known as Leadham, Loiter

A publishing firm.