# Mrs. Zamboni — King Coal character guide

> Mrs. Zamboni in King Coal by Upton Sinclair.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the pseudo-Mrs. Zamboni

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Snapshot

The boarding-house keeper whose watchful eye and ambiguous role make her a gatekeeper of camp secrets.

## Who they are

Known as the pseudo-Mrs. Zamboni, she runs the boarding house where miners eat and sleep, a position that gives her intimate knowledge of their lives. Her authority is domestic yet strategic, and her loyalties remain uncertain, making her a figure Hal must read carefully. She matters because she controls access to the community's daily life and its whispered truths.

## Relationships

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_social_

Mrs. Zamboni is a local boarding house owner who provides lodging and meals to Hal, acting as a maternal figure in the community.

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_social_

Mrs. Zamboni is a local boarding house owner who provides lodging and meals to Hal, acting as a maternal figure in the community.

### [Hal Warner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/hal_warner)

_social_

Mrs. Zamboni is a local boarding house owner who provides lodging and meals to Hal, acting as a maternal figure in the community.

## In the story

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xii)

Mentioned by Mary as a neighbor with many troubles and a tendency to complain.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxviii)

Her husband is trapped in Number One mine; she wanders the streets distracted, howling like a tortured animal with her brood following.

### [The Torturing Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxx)

Mentioned as moaning in her cabin with her children, neglected due to her distraction.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Mentioned by Hal as a mother of eleven children affected by the mine disaster.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxiii)

Mrs. Zamboni is mentioned as having been physically shoved by Pete Hanun when trying to see her husband.

### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxv)

Referenced indirectly as the woman whose 'man' was killed; Hal intends to help her inspect the remains.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxii)

Reluctantly gives up her widow's weeds for Hal's disguise.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxiii)

The persona Hal adopts; a poor widow whose husband died in the mine, she pleads for money to feed her children.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxv)

Referenced indirectly through the widow's weeds; her supposed remarriage is used by Hal to mock Edward.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/chapters/xxvi)

Mrs. Zamboni is present with the committee, eager to hear Hal's story.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters/mrs_zamboni
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_coal_se/characters