# The Englishman — Last and First Men character guide

> The Englishman in Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** The Englishman, the Englishman

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-anglo-french-war

## Who they are

A representative English individual, possibly a soldier or politician.

## In the story

### [II: Europe's Downfall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-europe-s-downfall)

Pleaded for the weapon's use to save England from the American fleet.

### [II: The Origins of a Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-origins-of-a-mystery)

An English physicist who mutters an archaism and later urges the Mongol to use the weapon against the American fleet.

### [III: Europe Murdered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-europe-murdered)

A scientist who deceives his captors to prevent the discovery of the destructive process, saving humanity from self-destruction.

### [America and China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-america-and-china)

The Englishman is referenced as part of the European tradition of critical intelligence and irreverent wit, which is now lost.

### [I: The Cult of Evanescence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-cult-of-evanescence)

Cited as an extinct type that the Fifth Men reconstruct with affectionate insight.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters/the_englishman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters