Greenmantle · Character

Sir Walter Bullivant

A weary, shrewd Foreign Office spymaster who has aged visibly under the war's weight, Sir Walter pulls Hannay off the trenches and into a stranger fight.

supporting

Also known as Sir Walter, Bullivant, Walter

First appearance: A Mission Is Proposed

As a supporting figure in Greenmantle, Sir Walter Bullivant is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A high-ranking Foreign Office official who proposes the dangerous mission to Hannay and reveals the cryptic clue.

In the storyA Mission Is ProposedOpen this moment free

Sir Walter Bullivant first appears in 0002 i a mission is proposed.

With Sandy Arbuthnot (professional): Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence. With John S. Blenkiron (professional): Blenkiron is a key operative under Bullivant's direction, with a relationship based on duty and trust. With Rasta Bey (rivalry): Opposing forces in the intelligence war, with Rasta Bey serving as a tool of the enemy against Bullivant's network.

See Sir Walter Bullivant in A Mission Is Proposed Book page

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Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Sir Walter Bullivant sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Central conspirators and agents

+13 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

This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the protagonis…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Sandy Arbuthnot
professional · positive
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence. How this plays out →
John S. Blenkiron
professional · positive
Rasta Bey
rivalry · negative
John S. Blenkiron
professional · positive
Rasta Bey
rivalry · negative
Sandy Arbuthnot
professional · positive
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence. How this plays out →
John S. Blenkiron
professional · positive
Sandy Arbuthnot
professional · positive
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence. How this plays out →

Sandy Arbuthnot
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence.
John S. Blenkiron
Blenkiron is a key operative under Bullivant's direction, with a relationship based on duty and trust.
Rasta Bey
Opposing forces in the intelligence war, with Rasta Bey serving as a tool of the enemy against Bullivant's network.
John S. Blenkiron
Blenkiron is a key operative under Bullivant's direction, with a relationship based on duty and trust.
Rasta Bey
Opposing forces in the intelligence war, with Rasta Bey serving as a tool of the enemy against Bullivant's network.
Sandy Arbuthnot
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence.
John S. Blenkiron
Blenkiron is a key operative under Bullivant's direction, with a relationship based on duty and trust.
Sandy Arbuthnot
Sandy takes orders from Sir Walter, who is his superior in British intelligence.

Relationship notes

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

See Sir Walter Bullivant in A Mission Is Proposed

In the story

Sir Walter Bullivant appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

A Mission Is Proposed
A high-ranking Foreign Office official who proposes the dangerous mission to Hannay and reveals the cryptic clue.
The Gathering of the Missionaries
Arranges the meeting between Hannay and Blenkiron; provides Blenkiron's dossier.
Peter Pienaar
Coordinates the mission; reassures Hannay about Blenkiron's antics and provides official support.
The Essen Barges
Mentioned as the person Hannay would like to report the 'v. I' clue to.
The Guns of the North
Mentioned as the one who would know of their sacrifice and inform their next of kin.

Chapter companion notes

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See Sir Walter Bullivant in A Mission Is Proposed