Character guide

Dickie Harding

major

Also known as Harding, Dickie, Dickie Harding, little lame Dickie Harding

A lame boy from Deptford who dreams of a past life as a nobleman.

Mr. Beale

supporting

Also known as Beale, old Beale, Old Beale

Dickie's abusive guardian who keeps him in poverty.

Dickie Arden

major

Also known as Dickie, Lord Arden, Arden, dear Dickie, the lost Dickie

Dickie's dream identity as a noble boy in the past.

Edred

supporting

Also known as the Edred

A boy from Dickie's dream, brother to Elfrida.

Elfrida

supporting

Also known as little Elfrida, Elfrida Arden, the Elfrida

A girl from Dickie's dream, sister to Edred.

Lord Arden

supporting

Also known as Richard, Richard Arden, Richard Lord Arden

The adult Lord Arden in Dickie's dream timeline.

Lady Talbot

minor

A noblewoman connected to the Arden family.

Mrs. Markham

minor

Also known as Markham

A housekeeper or servant in the Arden household.

True

minor

Also known as little True, But True

A loyal dog in Dickie's dream.

Sebastian

minor

Also known as old Sebastian

An old servant in the Arden household.

Amelia

minor

A female character in the dream sequences.

Mouldiwarp

supporting

Also known as the Mouldiwarp, Mouldierwarp, the Mouldiestwarp, the Great Mouldiestwarp

He appears in Dickie's dream-life as a small, whiskered power broker who can open the way between a Deptford boy's two worlds, but only on his own punctilious terms. His vanity is enormous and his rules are exacting: he insists on being addressed by his full, escalating title and takes offense at carelessness. He matters because Dickie's longing to dream again — and the Mouldiwarp's willingness to be coaxed — is what keeps the buried treasure of the past within reach.

Jim

minor

Also known as King James the First, James, King James, James the First

King James I, appearing in Dickie's dream.

Mr. Parados

minor

A character encountered in Dickie's adventures.

Edward Talbot

minor

Also known as Edward

A member of the Talbot family.

Farver

minor

Also known as farver

Dickie's father figure, mentioned in dialect.

Father

minor

Dickie's father, mentioned but not present.

Mother

minor

Dickie's mother, mentioned but not present.

Master Richard

minor

Also known as Richard, Richard ⸻

A young boy in Dickie's dream, possibly a relative.

Joe

minor

A minor character in Dickie's Deptford life.

Melia

minor

A servant or acquaintance in the story.

Tinkler

minor

A character associated with the moonflower.

Mr. Rosenberg

minor

A character in Dickie's modern-day life.

Parrot-nose

minor

Also known as old Parrot-nose, old Parrot, Parrot

A nickname for a character with a distinctive nose.

Dear little Charlie

minor

Also known as Charles the First

King Charles I, briefly referenced in the dream.

Lady Nithsdale

minor

A historical figure referenced in the story.

Mr. Roscoe

minor

A character in Dickie's modern-day life.

Tommy

minor

Also known as Sir Thomas Bradbury, Thomas

A minor character, possibly a knight in the dream.

Jake Ward

minor

Also known as Jake Ward wunst, Here Ward, Ward

A character from Dickie's Deptford neighborhood.

Sir Richard Arden

minor

Also known as Sir Richard

An ancestor of the Arden family in the dream.

Lady Arden

minor

Also known as the Lady Arden

The wife of Lord Arden in the dream.

New Mrs. Beale

minor

Also known as Mrs. Beale

Mr. Beale's new wife, a minor character.