# George Baldwin — Manhattan Transfer character guide

> George Baldwin in Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Baldwin, George, Hello George, Honest George, Mr. Baldwin

**First appearance:** 0000-section-i

## Who they are

A successful lawyer and politician entangled with Ellen and the city's elite.

## Relationships

### [Ellen Thatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/ellen_thatcher)

_romantic_

A complex, on-and-off romantic and professional entanglement where George is persistently infatuated with Ellen, who remains ambivalent and uses him for advancement.

### [Gus McNiel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/gus_mcniel)

_professional_

George is a lawyer who represents Gus after a crime, using the case to further his own political ambitions.

### [Ellen Thatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/ellen_thatcher)

_romantic_

A complex, on-and-off romantic and professional entanglement where George is persistently infatuated with Ellen, who remains ambivalent and uses him for advancement.

### [Ellen Thatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/ellen_thatcher)

_romantic_

A complex, on-and-off romantic and professional entanglement where George is persistently infatuated with Ellen, who remains ambivalent and uses him for advancement.

### [Gus McNiel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/gus_mcniel)

_professional_

George is a lawyer who represents Gus after a crime, using the case to further his own political ambitions.

### [Gus McNiel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/gus_mcniel)

_professional_

George is a lawyer who represents Gus after a crime, using the case to further his own political ambitions.

## In the story

### [III: Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iii-dollars)

A young lawyer without clients who reads about an accident and decides to pursue a damage suit for the injured milkman, visiting his home to speak with his wife.

### [Tracks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iv-tracks)

Works alone in his office on a Sunday, meets his lover Nellie and kisses her, troubled by the secrecy.

### [Section II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/section-ii)

Interacts with Ellen, furthering his pursuit of her.

### [I: Great Lady on a White Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/i-great-lady-on-a-white-horse)

A lawyer; meets Ellen at the Brevoort and discusses their relationship.

### [III: Nine Days' Wonder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iii-nine-days-wonder)

Has a tense breakfast with his wife Cecily, who accuses him of marrying her for social position and of infidelity; he tries to calm her.

### [V: Went to the Animals’ Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/v-went-to-the-animals-fair)

Confesses his unhappiness and romantic obsession with Ellen, then pulls a revolver in a jealous outburst.

### [VIII: One More River to Jordan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/viii-one-more-river-to-jordan)

Rides the subway with Sandbourne, anxious about rumors linking him to Miss Oglethorpe.

### [Section III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/section-iii)

George Baldwin is involved in legal and personal affairs, representing the intersection of ambition and moral ambiguity.

### [I: Rejoicing City That Dwelt Carelessly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/i-rejoicing-city-that-dwelt-carelessly)

George Baldwin is urged by Gus McNiel and Ben Densch to run for political office, discussing the post-war reconstruction and his law practice.

### [III: Revolving Doors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iii-revolving-doors)

Ends his affair with Nevada Jones after finding Tony Hunter's trousers, then impulsively seeks out Ellen Herf.

### [V: The Burden of Nineveh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/v-the-burden-of-nineveh)

Mentioned as the man Ellen is going to marry, recently appointed District Attorney and being groomed for mayor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters/george_baldwin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/characters