Travel Essays · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Travel Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Modestine
major
Also known as the reluctant Modestine
A stubborn but beloved donkey who accompanies the narrator through the Cévennes.
Alick
supporting
Also known as the unabashed Alick
A Scottish servant or companion, often addressed directly by the narrator.
Rufe Hanson
supporting
Also known as Rufe, Rufe the hunter, Hanson, Rufus
A hunter and neighbor in the Silverado mining community.
Irvine Lovelands
supporting
Also known as Irvine, Lovelands
A companion or acquaintance encountered during travels.
Du Chayla
supporting
Also known as Lamoignon de Bâvile—François de Langlade du Chayla
A historical figure, the archpriest of the Cévennes, central to the Camisard conflict.
The Arethusa
minor
Also known as the undaunted Arethusa
A personified ship or boat featured in a narrative episode.
Mackay
minor
A Scottish figure, possibly a historical or literary reference with narrative presence.
The Camisards
supporting
Also known as Camisards
Protestant rebels in the Cévennes, central to the historical narrative.
The Priest
minor
Also known as the priest, The priest, the Priest
A Catholic clergyman encountered during the travels.
The Cigarette
minor
Also known as Cigarette, Pedlars The Cigarette
A peddler or character met on the canal journey.
Mr. Jones
minor
Also known as Jones, Meantime Jones
An acquaintance or fellow traveler in the narrative.
Mr. Kelmar
supporting
Also known as Kelmar, Mrs. Kelmar, Mr. Kelmar, Introduce Mr. Kelmar
A resident of the Silverado area, involved in the mining community.
Mrs. Hanson
minor
Also known as Hanson
Wife of Rufe Hanson, part of the hunter's family.
Blackwood
minor
A person mentioned in the Scottish sections, possibly a historical figure.
Gaston Lafenestre
minor
Also known as Gaston
A French acquaintance met during the travels.
Smethurst
minor
Also known as Mr. Smethurst
A character encountered in the later essays, possibly an engineer.
Mr. Commissary
minor
Also known as The Commissary, the Commissary, Poor bubuckled Commissary
A French official encountered during the canal journey.
Hackston of Rathillet
minor
Also known as Hackston
A historical Scottish Covenanter mentioned in the Edinburgh essays.
Mr. Ronalds
minor
Also known as Ronalds
An acquaintance encountered during the travels.
Burns
minor
Likely Robert Burns, referenced as a literary figure in the Scottish essays.
Father Michael
minor
Also known as The Monks Father Michael, Father
A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.
Mr. McEckron
minor
Also known as McEckron
A Scottish character mentioned in the Edinburgh or travel sections.
Clarisse
minor
A female character mentioned in the French travel sections.
Tom Bowling
minor
Also known as Tom, Tommy
A sailor or nautical character referenced in the essays.
Barney
minor
A character mentioned in the travel narratives.
Mr. Dennis Kearney
minor
Also known as Kearney
A historical figure, possibly a politician or agitator in California.
Foss
minor
Also known as the daring Foss, the famous Foss, Mr. Foss, the great Foss
A notable character, possibly a performer or eccentric.
The Officer
minor
Also known as the officer, The officer
A military or police officer encountered during travels.
Indians
minor
Also known as the Indians, other Indians
Native Americans encountered during the American travel sections.
The Archpriest
minor
Also known as the archpriest
A Catholic official in the Cévennes, likely Du Chayla.
Bob Bain
minor
Also known as Bain, Bob
A Scottish character mentioned in the Edinburgh essays.
Miss Lizzie
minor
Also known as Lizzie
A female character, possibly a servant or acquaintance.
The Hansons
minor
Also known as Happy Hansons
The Hanson family, neighbors in the Silverado community.
Silverado
supporting
Also known as The Silverado
The abandoned mining camp where the narrator squats.
Salomon Couderc
minor
Also known as Salomon
A French peasant or farmer encountered in the Cévennes.
Mary
minor
Also known as Queen Mary, Mariette
A female figure, possibly historical or a local woman.
Castanet
minor
A Camisard leader mentioned in the historical narrative.
Mr. Schram
minor
Also known as jolly Mr. Schram
A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.
Madame Gilliard
minor
Also known as Madame
A French woman encountered during the journey.
Mr. Thomson
minor
A Scottish acquaintance mentioned in the essays.
Jerry
minor
A character mentioned in the travel narratives.
The Doctor
minor
Also known as the Doctor, the doctor
A medical professional encountered during travels.
Old Edinburgh
minor
Also known as Edinburgh
The personified city of Edinburgh in the descriptive essays.
The Bazins
minor
A family encountered during the French travels.
Captain Poul
minor
Also known as Poul
A ship captain or nautical figure.
Master Sam
minor
Also known as Sam
A young boy or servant mentioned in the narratives.
Major Weir
minor
Also known as Major
A historical Scottish figure, a warlock or covenanter.
Father Apollinaris
minor
Also known as Matthew Arnold Father Apollinaris, simple Father Apollinaris
A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.
Cavalier
minor
A Camisard leader in the Cévennes uprising.
Fanny
minor
A female companion, possibly the narrator's wife.
Séguier
minor
Also known as Spirit, Spirit Séguier, the Spirit
A Camisard prophet or leader in the Cévennes.
The Chinese
minor
Also known as the despised Chinese, The Chinese
Chinese immigrants encountered in California.
The Americans
minor
Also known as Americans
American people encountered during the transcontinental journey.
Joe Strong
minor
Also known as Strong
A resident of the Silverado mining community.
Jacques
minor
A French character encountered during the travels.
Bazin
minor
Also known as Madame Bazin
A French family encountered during the journey.
Father Adam
minor
Also known as Adam with divine fitness
A monk or religious figure at the monastery.
The Devonian
minor
Also known as The Devonian
A person from Devon encountered during travels.
Mr. Corwin
minor
Also known as Corwin, Corwin the bold
An acquaintance in the California sections.
Arthur
minor
A character mentioned in the travel narratives.
Robert Fergusson
minor
Also known as Fergusson
A Scottish poet referenced in the Edinburgh essays.
George Sand
minor
The French writer, referenced as a literary figure.
Père Apollinaire
minor
A French priest encountered during the travels.
Vasquez
minor
A character, possibly a bandit or historical figure in California.
The Officers
minor
Also known as the officers
Military or police officers encountered during travels.
M. Hector
minor
A French gentleman encountered during the journey.
The English
minor
Also known as The English
English people encountered during the travels.
Lord Roland
minor
Also known as Roland, Count and Lord Roland
A historical or legendary figure referenced in the essays.
O'Reilly
minor
Also known as the young O'Reilly
A young Irishman encountered during the travels.
Irish Tommy
minor
Also known as Thomas, Tom, poor Tom, the Tom
An Irish character met during the journey.
The Mexicans
minor
Also known as Mexicans, The Mexicans
Mexican people encountered in California.
Caliban
minor
Also known as Caliban Malvolio
A literary reference, possibly used as a character comparison.
The Judge
minor
Also known as The Judge, the judge
A legal official encountered during the travels.
Samson
minor
Also known as Samuel, Kong Sam Kee, The Kong Sam Kee, Sam
A Chinese merchant or character in California.
M. de Vauversin
minor
Also known as de Vauversin
A French aristocrat encountered during the travels.
John Knox
minor
Also known as Knox, John
The Scottish reformer, referenced in the Edinburgh essays.
Satan
minor
The devil, referenced as a figure in moral or religious contexts.
Cotton Mather
minor
A Puritan minister, referenced in historical context.
Abramina
minor
A female character mentioned in the travel narratives.
Mr. Jennings
minor
Also known as happy Mr. Jennings
A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.
