Character guide

Adam Fenwick-Symes

major

Also known as Adam, Adam Symes, Symes, V Adam

A young writer navigating the chaotic social scene of Bright Young People.

Nina Blount

major

Also known as Miss Blount, Anne Opalthorpe, Miss Nina Blount

Adam's on-again, off-again love interest from a quirky aristocratic family.

Miss Runcible

major

Also known as Agatha Runcible, Agatha, The Hon. Agatha Runcible

A wild socialite whose antics and tragic fate embody the era's excess.

Lottie Crump

supporting

Also known as Crump, Mrs. Crump

The formidable proprietor of Shepheard's Hotel, a hub for the young set.

Ginger Littlejohn

supporting

Also known as Mr. 'Ginger' Littlejohn, Young Mr. Littlejohn, Poor Ginger

A straightforward, wealthy young man who becomes entangled with Nina.

Colonel Blount

supporting

Also known as Colonel, Even Colonel Blount

Nina's eccentric, elderly father obsessed with his model train set.

Simon Balcairn

supporting

Also known as Balcairn, Lord Balcairn

A gossip columnist who meets a grim end after a social faux pas.

Father Rothschild S.J.

supporting

Also known as Rothschild, Suddenly Father Rothschild

A worldly-wise Jesuit priest who observes and comments on the action.

Miles Malpractice

supporting

Also known as The Hon. Miles Malpractice

A perpetually drunk and penniless member of the Bright Young People.

Mr. Outrage

supporting

Also known as Outrage, Poor Mr. Outrage

The beleaguered Prime Minister, constantly scandalized by the younger generation.

Mrs. Florin

minor

Also known as Florin, old Florin

A gossipy older woman who keeps tabs on society's doings.

Archie Schwert

minor

Also known as Archie

A fast-talking American friend of the Bright Young People.

Chastity

minor

One of Mrs. Melrose Ape's angelic chorus girls on a crusade.

Mrs. Melrose Ape

minor

Also known as Mrs. Ape

An American evangelist who brings her troupe to London.

Isaacs

minor

Also known as Mr. Isaacs

A shady film producer involved in various schemes.

Darling

minor

A vapid socialite and frequent party-goer.

Edward Throbbing

minor

Also known as Throbbing

A pompous novelist and father of Fanny.

Margot Metroland

minor

Also known as Margot Beste-Chetwynd, dear Margot

A glamorous society hostess and former mistress of Adam.

Arthur

minor

Also known as old Arthur

A loyal butler or servant in the Blount household.

Lord Metroland

minor

Margot's husband, a powerful newspaper proprietor.

Sam Benfleet

minor

Also known as Mr. Sam Benfleet, Mr. Benfleet

A struggling writer and friend of Adam's.

Jane Brown

minor

Also known as Miss Brown, Miss Jane Brown

A young woman who briefly catches Adam's attention.

Bert

minor

Also known as Bob

Two working-class men who appear in a few scenes.

Mr. Henderson

minor

A customs officer who interrogates Adam on the boat.

Fanny Throbbing

minor

Also known as Fanny

Edward Throbbing's daughter, a Bright Young Person.

Lord Vanburgh

minor

Also known as Vanburgh

An elderly aristocrat who appears at parties.

Kitty Blackwater

minor

Also known as Kitty

A member of the Bright Young People.

Lady Circumference

minor

A formidable society matron.

The Rector

minor

Also known as Rector

The local clergyman who performs a wedding.

Ada

minor

A maid in the Blount household.

Mary Mouse

minor

Also known as Mary, Miss Mouse

A young woman who attends parties with her family.

Lady Ursula

minor

Also known as Ursula

A socialite friend of the group.

Mr. Chatterbox

minor

Also known as Chatterbox

A gossip columnist for the daily press.

Mrs. Andrew Quest

minor

Also known as Mrs. Quest, Andrew

A couple who host a party.

Doge

minor

A mysterious figure at a party.

Lord Monomark

minor

Also known as Monomark

A wealthy businessman and newspaper owner.

Mrs. Hoop

minor

Mother of Johnny Hoop, a society hostess.

John Wesley

minor

Also known as Wesley

A historical figure referenced as an ancestor of a character.

Mrs. Blackwater

minor

Kitty's mother, a society figure.

Gilmour

minor

A friend of the Bright Young People.

Canon Chatterbox

minor

Mr. Chatterbox's clerical relative.

Lady Metroland

minor

Another title for Margot Metroland.

Judge Skimp

minor

A judge presiding over a libel case.

Miss Agatha

minor

Also known as Aggie

A possible duplicate or variant of Agatha Runcible.

Lady Throbbing

minor

Edward Throbbing's wife.

Old Rampole

minor

Also known as Rampole

An elderly gentleman at a party.

Flossie

minor

Also known as Miss Florence Ducane, Miss Ducane

A silly young woman at a party.

Johnny Hoop

minor

Also known as Johnnie Hoop, Johnnie

A young man about town.

Angus Stuart-Kerr

minor

Also known as Captain Stuart-Kerr, Captain Angus Stuart-Kerr

A military man who appears at social functions.

Mrs. Mouse

minor

Mary Mouse's mother.

Miss La Touche

minor

A young woman at a party.

Shepheard

minor

The name of the hotel run by Lottie Crump.

Peter Pastmaster

minor

Also known as Peter

A young aristocrat and friend of Adam.

Effie La Touche

minor

Also known as Effie

A young woman at a party.

Mr. Titchcock

minor

A minor character at a party.

Tony

minor

A friend of the Bright Young People.

Lily

minor

A maid or servant.

Captain Marino

minor

Also known as Marino

A ship's captain encountered on a voyage.

Sir James Brown

minor

Also known as Brown, that old windbag Brown

A pompous politician or public figure.

Van

minor

A minor character at a party.

Alphonse

minor

A waiter or servant.

Count Cincinnati

minor

An eccentric foreign count at a party.

Mrs. Littlejohn

minor

Also known as Littlejohn

Ginger's mother.

Papa

minor

A generic term for a father, possibly Colonel Blount.

Mrs. Panrast

minor

A minor character at a party.

Betty Rylands

minor

Also known as Betty

A young woman at a party.

Alice

minor

A maid or servant.

Hope

minor

One of Mrs. Melrose Ape's angelic chorus girls.

Ambrose

minor

A minor character at a party.

Humility

minor

One of Mrs. Melrose Ape's angelic chorus girls.

Whitefield

minor

A historical figure referenced in the novel.

Old Lady Graybridge

minor

An elderly society figure.

Prudence

minor

One of Mrs. Melrose Ape's angelic chorus girls.

Lady Anchorage

minor

A society hostess.

Judge Thingummy

minor

Also known as Judge, young Thingummy

A judge in a courtroom scene.

Baroness Yoshiwara

minor

Also known as The little Baroness Yoshiwara

An exotic foreign baroness at a party.

Imogen Quest

minor

Also known as Imogen

A young woman at a party.

Selina

minor

A maid or servant.

Edwards

minor

A servant or butler.

Sister Briggs

minor

A nurse attending to Agatha Runcible.

Mrs. Wesley

minor

John Wesley's wife, mentioned in passing.