Harding’s Luck · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Harding’s Luck by E. Nesbit.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
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.