Blind Corner · Character

Jonathan Mansel

A cool-headed Oxford exile with a talent for trouble, he turns a chance eavesdropping in France into a campaign against men who would kill for a secret.

major

Also known as Mansel, Hanbury

First appearance: Blind Corner

As a major figure in Blind Corner, Jonathan Mansel is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Ally of Chandos who joins him in the pursuit.

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Freshly sent down from Oxford for thrashing some communists, Mansel is drifting toward his uncle's London office when a roadside nap lands him in the middle of a bitter quarrel over a hidden prize. He is the steady eye and the planning mind of the group — the one who decides when to dig, when to spy, and when to strike. His composure under pressure sets the tone for the whole desperate enterprise.

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Character Web

13 connections

A slice of how Jonathan Mansel sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Romantic
Professional
Friendship

Character groups

Protagonist
Central cast and figures

+8 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

The emotional peak occurs as the protagonists confront their utter helplessness—entombed alive, physically spe…

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Relationships

Carson Hanbury
rivalry · negative
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Carson and Jonathan are locked in a battle of wills,… How this plays out →
Rose Noble
romantic · ambivalent
Ellis
professional · ambivalent
Rowley
friendship · positive
Tester
professional · ambivalent
Richard William Chandos
professional · ambivalent
Punter
social · neutral
Job
rivalry · negative
Rose Noble
romantic · ambivalent
Carson Hanbury
rivalry · negative
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Carson and Jonathan are locked in a battle of wills,… How this plays out →
Richard William Chandos
professional · ambivalent
Ellis
professional · ambivalent

Carson Hanbury
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Carson and Jonathan are locked in a battle of wills, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
Rose Noble
Jonathan is deeply infatuated with Rose, but their relationship is complicated by his obsession and her shifting feelings.
Ellis
Ellis serves as Jonathan's loyal but increasingly conflicted assistant, bound by duty yet troubled by Jonathan's choices.
Rowley
Rowley is Jonathan's closest confidant, offering support and counsel even as Jonathan spirals into darker behavior.
Tester
Tester is a colleague of Jonathan's, involved in the same business dealings but with a wary, watchful eye on Jonathan's methods.
Richard William Chandos
Jonathan and Richard are business associates, but Richard is wary of Jonathan's reckless behavior and questionable ethics.
Punter
Jonathan and Punter move in the same social circles, but their interactions are superficial and rarely substantive.
Job
Job distrusts Jonathan and sees him as a bad influence on Rose, leading to quiet but persistent antagonism.
Rose Noble
Jonathan is deeply infatuated with Rose, but their relationship is complicated by his obsession and her shifting feelings.
Carson Hanbury
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Carson and Jonathan are locked in a battle of wills, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
Richard William Chandos
Jonathan and Richard are business associates, but Richard is wary of Jonathan's reckless behavior and questionable ethics.
Ellis
Ellis serves as Jonathan's loyal but increasingly conflicted assistant, bound by duty yet troubled by Jonathan's choices.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Jonathan Mansel appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Blind Corner
Ally of Chandos who joins him in the pursuit.
I: The Well-Digger’s Statement
Older man who proposes the plan to acquire Wagensburg and lift the treasure; sets conditions for obedience.
II: The Way to Wagensburg
Plans the journey, travels ahead, and inspects Wagensburg with Chandos and Hanbury.
III: The Battle with the Springs
Devises a clever scheme to outwit Ellis, secures the lease, and stands firm against threats.
IV: The Attack on the Well
Trapped in the well, he ascends the shaft to avoid the enemy and hides in the chamber behind iron bars.
V: We Go to Ground
Leads the planning, takes compass bearings, and devises the strategy to mislead Rose Noble and draw the enemy into the combe.
VI: Tester Gives Tongue
Leads the operation, confronts Punter and Job, and orchestrates the base system.
VII: Rose Noble Moves
Provides a strategic analysis of the tanner's potential actions and the need to visit the inn. He later visits Lerai and gathers information from the landlord's wife.
VIII: The Race for the Chamber
Leads the council, plans the final push, and maintains morale with his confidence. He builds breastworks and sets the electric alarm, and later discovers water below the shaft floor.
IX: Out of the Eater
Leads the group with calm and strategic thinking, devising the escape plan and later managing the customs evasion.

Chapter companion notes

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