# Gavan Blake — An Outback Marriage character guide > Gavan Blake in An Outback Marriage by Banjo Paterson. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Blake, Mr. Blake, Gavan **First appearance:** 0000-i-in-the-club ## Snapshot A smooth-tongued country lawyer with debts up to his neck, always one clever stroke away from either fortune or ruin. ## Who they are Blake moves through the district as adviser, suitor, and gambler, charming clients while quietly spending their money to stay afloat. When a forged marriage certificate lands in his hands, he sees a chance to erase his losses and secure a fortune that isn't his. His nerve and his flinching conscience make him the novel's most dangerous kind of villain — the one you almost root for. ## Relationships ### [Maggie Donohoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/maggie_donohoe) _romantic_ Gavan Blake is romantically involved with Maggie Donohoe, with tension arising from her family's rough background. ### [Old Man Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/old_man_grant) _professional_ Gavan Blake works as a manager or overseer for Old Man Grant's station, with a professional but often strained dynamic. ### [Ellen Harriott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/ellen_harriott) _romantic_ Ellen Harriott is a refined Englishwoman who becomes a romantic interest for Gavan Blake, creating a love triangle. ### [Hugh Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/hugh_gordon) _friendship_ Gavan Blake and Hugh Gordon are friends and allies, often working together on station matters. ### [Red Mick Donohoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/red_mick_donohoe) _rivalry_ Gavan Blake and Red Mick Donohoe are antagonists, with Red Mick opposing Blake's involvement with his daughter Maggie. ### [Old Man Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/old_man_grant) _professional_ Gavan Blake works as a manager or overseer for Old Man Grant's station, with a professional but often strained dynamic. ### [Maggie Donohoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/maggie_donohoe) _romantic_ Gavan Blake is romantically involved with Maggie Donohoe, with tension arising from her family's rough background. ### [Red Mick Donohoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/red_mick_donohoe) _rivalry_ Gavan Blake and Red Mick Donohoe are antagonists, with Red Mick opposing Blake's involvement with his daughter Maggie. ### [Hugh Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/hugh_gordon) _friendship_ Gavan Blake and Hugh Gordon are friends and allies, often working together on station matters. ### [Old Man Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/old_man_grant) _professional_ Gavan Blake works as a manager or overseer for Old Man Grant's station, with a professional but often strained dynamic. ### [Ellen Harriott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/ellen_harriott) _romantic_ Ellen Harriott is a refined Englishwoman who becomes a romantic interest for Gavan Blake, creating a love triangle. ### [Maggie Donohoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/maggie_donohoe) _romantic_ Gavan Blake is romantically involved with Maggie Donohoe, with tension arising from her family's rough background. ## In the story ### [A Dinner for Five](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/ii-a-dinner-for-five) Blake is not present in this chapter. ### [VI: A Coach Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/vi-a-coach-accident) Travels on the coach; rescues Mary from the creek; exchanges hostile looks with Hugh; refuses a lift initially but eventually joins the wagonette. ### [Mr. Blake's Relations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/vii-mr-blake-s-relations) Discussed as the lawyer from Tarrong, of mixed parentage, and the savior of Mary's life. ### [VIII: At the Homestead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/viii-at-the-homestead) Mentioned as a selector's son and lawyer who saved Mary's life; Ellen knows him but he is not invited to Kuryong by the Gordons. ### [X: A Lawyer in the Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/x-a-lawyer-in-the-bush) The lawyer and solicitor in Tarrong, financially strained, a gambler, and secretly engaged to Ellen Harriott; he receives an invitation to Kuryong after saving Mary Grant's life. ### [XI: A Walk in the Moonlight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xi-a-walk-in-the-moonlight) Drives to Kuryong, hears Mary sing, and resolves to win her for her wealth and status. ### [Mr. Blake Breaks His Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xii-mr-blake-breaks-his-engagement) Breaks off his engagement to Ellen, citing bad luck and debt, and plans to leave Tarrong. ### [XIII: The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xiii-the-rivals) Visits Kuryong occasionally, makes himself agreeable to Mary, and is romantically linked with her. ### [XX: A Consultation at Kiley’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xx-a-consultation-at-kiley-s) The lawyer consulted by Peggy; cross-examines her and plans to approach Mary Grant for a settlement. ### [XXI: No Compromise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xxi-no-compromise) Presents Peggy's claim to Mary Grant and is rebuffed; resolves to win the case unscrupulously. ### [Hugh Goes in Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xxiii-hugh-goes-in-search) Decides to represent Peggy Donohoe after being convinced by the marriage certificate and witness testimony. ### [The Real Certificate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xxvii-the-real-certificate) Grows irritable as the case approaches; demands a third of the winnings; discovers the real certificate and forges it. ### [A Legal Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xxviii-a-legal-battle) Driven by hatred, he pushes the case despite knowing the risk; exposed for forgery, he flees court and commits suicide. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters/gavan_blake - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/characters