# Fred Gross Stories — Character guide

> Key figures in Fred Gross Stories by Ring Lardner.

- [Grace Charley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/grace_charley.md): Fred's wife and the engine of the Grosses' social climb, she mistakes a neighbor's parlor for a stage and plays the leading lady in every suburban comedy.
- [Fred A. Gross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/fred_a_gross.md): A Chicago detective turned suburban homeowner, he narrates his family's climb into respectability in letters that misspell every rung of the ladder.
- [Mrs. Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/mrs_hamilton.md): A neighbor who receives Grace's calling card with the frozen courtesy of a woman who suspects she is being investigated.
- [Mr. Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/martin.md): The next-door neighbor who shares Fred's train seat and his suspicion that the Hamiltons are starving their cat out of spite.
- [Brother Charley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/brother_charley.md): Fred's patient correspondent, the flat-dwelling brother whose quiet life becomes the foil for every Gross misadventure.
- [Mary Gross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/mary_gross.md): Charley's wife and the quiet recipient of Fred's regards, she represents the flat-dwelling life the Grosses have left behind.
- [Mr. Thomas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/mr_thomas.md): Mr. Thomas belongs to the revolving cast of suburbanites whose homes Grace and her husband visit in Ring Lardner's small-town social circuit, where card games, beer, and door-to-door calls structure the evenings. He answ
- [Bob Barnes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/bob_barnes.md): Named character, appears in scenes, likely a friend or acquaintance.
- [Bro. Charley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/bro_charley.md): Another form of Brother Charley, appears in letters and narrative.
- [The Dr.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/the_dr.md): Doctor character, appears in scenes, likely a medical professional.
- [Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/parker.md): Deputy character, appears in scenes, likely an authority figure.
- [Mrs. Carpenter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters/mrs_carpenter.md): Wife of Mr. Carpenter, appears in scenes.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fred_gross_stories_se/characters