# Dean Priest — Emily of New Moon character guide

> Dean Priest in Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Jarback Priest, Dean, Whereby Dean Priest, Dean Priest Emily, Priest, Jarback, Jarback Praste

**First appearance:** 0003-iv-a-family-conclave

## Snapshot

A hunchbacked, world-weary traveler and storyteller who becomes Emily's unlikely mentor, offering her books, history, and a cynicism that both fascinates and unsettles her.

## Who they are

Dean Priest is a Murray cousin by blood and a wanderer by temperament, a man whose bitterness and erudition make him a strange companion for a young girl. He talks to Emily as an equal, feeding her hunger for Athens, Rome, and the magic of well-wedded words, while gently warning her that a thrilling life demands suffering as its price. His attention is flattering and formative, but his cynicism and his loneliness cast a shadow over the friendship that a careful reader will not forget.

## In the story

### [On the Bay Shore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxvi-on-the-bay-shore)

Rescues Emily from the cliff; engages in a long conversation about poetry, writing, and family; claims her life as his own, but also shows kindness and humor.

### [The Vow of Emily](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vow-of-emily)

Dean becomes a close companion to Emily, sharing stories and understanding her imaginative nature. He is a source of intellectual and emotional connection for her.

### [XXXI: Emily’s Great Moment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxxi-emily-s-great-moment)

Keeps Emily company during her convalescence with walks and stories.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/characters/dean_priest
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/characters