Emily of New Moon · Character

Cousin Jimmy Murray

Simple, gentle Cousin Jimmy, who tends New Moon's famous garden and loves Emily with the uncomplicated devotion of a child, is the household's hidden treasure.

supporting

Also known as Jimmy Murray, Murray, Cousin Jimmy Murray, Cousin, Jimmy, cousin Jimmy, Jim, Simple Jimmy Murray, Jimmy Murray

First appearance: i the house in the hollow

As a supporting figure in Emily of New Moon, Cousin Jimmy Murray is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Cousin Jimmy is mentioned as living with Elizabeth and Laura at New Moon Farm.

In the storyA Watch in the NightOpen this moment free

Cousin Jimmy is called simple by the world, but his garden is a work of genius and his heart is the warmest at New Moon. He becomes Emily's first true friend in the house, sharing her love of growing things and offering her the unconditional affection her aunts cannot. His garden is also the story's emblem of beauty worth protecting, and his quiet loyalty gives Emily a refuge when the Murray world presses hardest.

See Cousin Jimmy Murray in A Watch in the Night Book page

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Character Web

42 connections

A slice of how Cousin Jimmy Murray sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

New Moon Household
Extended Village and Family
Burnley Family Tragedy

+37 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Aunt Elizabeth discovers Emily’s secret writ…

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In the story

Cousin Jimmy Murray appears across 16 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

A Watch in the Night
Cousin Jimmy is mentioned as living with Elizabeth and Laura at New Moon Farm.
IV: A Family Conclave
Guards the door while Emily says her private goodbye to her father and gives her peppermint lozenges.
Diamond Cut Diamond
Cousin Jimmy suggests settling the matter by lot, whispers encouragingly to Emily about Aunt Laura's cooking, and shares his poetry with her.
VI: New Moon
Gentle and whimsical, he secretly treats Emily to ice-cream and speaks of fairies in the woods.
The Book of Yesterday
Shows Emily the graveyard and tells her the stories of the Murrays, including old Hugh and his wife.
X: Growing Pains
Cousin Jimmy retrieves the mail and is briefly mentioned.
XI: Ilse
Mentioned as the source of the tradition that family members are moved to the spare-room to die.
XIII: Daughter of Eve
Cousin Jimmy is mentioned as having gone to Shrewsbury with the aunts; his saying 'tastes like more' is recalled.
Fancy Fed
Cousin Jimmy boils the pigs' potatoes, recites his poetry to Emily, and reluctantly obeys Aunt Elizabeth's order to drown the kitten, though he later helps Emily keep it.
XV: Various Tragedies
Cousin Jimmy tells Emily the tragic story of the Lee brothers and the well. He advocates for hiring Perry because he saved Emily's life.
Check for Miss Brownell
Cousin Jimmy defends Emily by pointing out that Miss Brownell's actions were not 'fair and square,' causing Aunt Elizabeth to change her stance.
Living Epistles
Measures Emily's height, gives her a blank book for her birthday, and helps with the garden.
Father Cassidy
Cousin Jimmy is distracted and distressed, as his garden will be ruined if the bush is cut down.
Friends Again
Cousin Jimmy expresses his gratitude to Emily for saving the bush.
By Aerial Post
Mentions the end of the world rumor, carves turkey at Christmas, and helps make taffy with the girls.
XXIX: Sacrilege
Mentioned as someone who also writes poetry, but his accident has left him childlike.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Cousin Jimmy Murray unlock in the free preview.

See Cousin Jimmy Murray in i the house in the hollow

See Cousin Jimmy Murray in A Watch in the Night