Character guide

Hugo Danner

major

Also known as Danner, Little Hugo, young Hugo, Hugo Danner, IX Hugo, Dear Hugo, Hugo's

A boy born with impossible strength he never asked for, Hugo Danner must hide what he is in a world that would fear or exploit him.

Abednego Danner

supporting

Also known as Abednego, Professor Danner, Mr. Danner, Mr. H. Danner

A mild college biologist in Indian Creek, Abednego Danner bends chromosomes toward a private experiment that will remake his own household.

Mrs. Danner

supporting

Also known as the Danner

Matilda Danner rules her Colorado hearth with black silk and rigid piety, until a son arrives who cannot be ruled at all.

Charlotte

supporting

Charlotte enters Hugo's college years as someone who might love him, if he can ever let another person close enough to see.

Lefty Foresman

supporting

Also known as Lefty, Lefty old kid

Lefty Foresman is the easy, joking college friend whose ordinary life throws Hugo's strangeness into sharper relief.

Professor Mudge

minor

Also known as Mudge

A professor at the college Hugo attends, who takes an interest in him.

Thomas Mathew Shayne

supporting

Also known as Tom, Shayne, young Tom, Tom Shayne, R. J. Shayne, Shayne's

Tom Shayne is Hugo's classmate and comrade, a young man whose fate binds the two friends long after the trenches fall silent.

Anna Blake

minor

Also known as Anna

A young woman Hugo meets and becomes infatuated with.

Mr. Woodman

minor

Also known as Woodman, Only Woodman

A professor at the college who challenges Hugo intellectually.

Mr. Melcher

minor

Also known as Melcher, Willard Melcher

A wealthy businessman who employs Hugo for a time.

Mrs. Nolan

minor

Hugo's landlady during his time in New York.

Captain McClaren

minor

Also known as McClaren, Only McClaren

A captain in the French Foreign Legion who recruits Hugo.

Battling Ole Swenson

minor

Also known as Ole

A formidable boxer Hugo fights in an exhibition match.

Dan Hardin

minor

Also known as Dan, Daniel, Daniel Hardin, Hardin, Professor Hardin

A professor and later a colleague of Hugo's father.

Izzie

minor

A friend of Hugo's from his childhood in the small town.

Jerry Painter

minor

Also known as Jerry

A fellow soldier and friend of Hugo's in the Foreign Legion.

Charlie Todd

minor

Also known as Charlie, Chuck, Good old Chuck

A friend of Hugo's from his college football days.

Bessie

minor

Also known as the lost Bessie

A young woman from Hugo's hometown who he briefly courts.

Captain Crouan

minor

An officer in the French Foreign Legion.

Mrs. Ralph Jordan Shayne

minor

Also known as Mrs. Shayne, Ralph Jordan Shayne, Ralph

Tom Shayne's mother, a supportive figure in his life.

Valentine Mitchel

minor

Also known as Mitchel, Valentine

A fellow soldier and friend of Hugo's in the Foreign Legion.

Samson

minor

A biblical figure Hugo is compared to due to his strength.

Mr. H. Smith

minor

Also known as Smith, H. Smith

A government agent who recruits Hugo for a secret mission.

Webster

minor

A friend of Hugo's from his college days.

Mr. Cane

minor

Also known as Cane, Cane—Ralph Cane, old man Cane

Roseanne's father, a local businessman in Hugo's hometown.

Roseanne Cane

minor

Also known as Roseanne

A young woman from Hugo's hometown who he is fond of.

Aunt Emma

minor

Also known as Emma

Hugo's aunt, who lives with the family for a time.

President Mills

minor

The president of the college Hugo attends.

Will Hoag

minor

Also known as Hoag

A friend of Hugo's from his college days.

Otto Meyer

minor

Also known as Otto

A German soldier Hugo encounters during World War I.

Woodie

minor

A friend of Hugo's from his hometown.

Mr. Epstein

minor

Also known as Epstein

A businessman who hires Hugo for a dangerous job.

Iris

minor

A woman Hugo meets and becomes involved with in New York.

Professor Whitaker

minor

Also known as Whitaker, Professors Whitaker

A professor at the college Hugo attends.

The Swede

minor

Also known as the mountainous Swede

A large and powerful soldier in the Foreign Legion.

Kate

minor

Also known as the Katrina

A woman Hugo meets during his travels.

Nelson

minor

A fellow soldier in the Foreign Legion.

Fitzsimmons

minor

Also known as Fitz

A friend of Hugo's from his college days.

Janice

minor

A young woman Hugo meets and briefly dates.

Mr. Smoots

minor

Also known as Smoots

A teacher at the school Hugo attends as a boy.

Dr. Thorndyke

minor

Also known as Thorndyke

A doctor who examines Hugo as a child.

Congressman Hatten

minor

Also known as The Congressman, Hatten

A politician who interacts with Hugo during his time in Washington.

Claudine

minor

A woman Hugo meets in France during the war.

Mrs. Robinson

minor

A neighbor of the Danner family.

Esmerelda

minor

A fortune teller Hugo visits.

Matilda Danner

minor

Also known as Matilda

Hugo's younger sister.

Marcelle

minor

A woman Hugo meets in France.