Jimmy Herf

Ellen Thatcher

Childhood friends who drift apart as adults, with Ellen pursuing social success while Jimmy seeks meaning, creating a bittersweet, nostalgic bond.

Ed Thatcher

Ed is Jimmy's uncle and guardian after Jimmy's mother dies, providing a stable but emotionally distant home.

Stan Emery

College friends and fellow idealists who share a cynical view of society, though Stan's self-destruction strains their bond.

Ruth Prynne

A brief, intense romance that ends when Ruth chooses a conventional marriage over Jimmy's bohemian lifestyle.

Maisie

A short-lived, unhappy marriage where Maisie's materialism clashes with Jimmy's idealism, leading to divorce.

Lily Herf

Jimmy's mother, whose death early in the novel leaves him orphaned and shapes his restless search for belonging.

Jack Cunningham

Fellow journalist and drinking companion, sharing a cynical camaraderie in the newspaper world.

Congo Jake

A loyal, working-class friend who provides Jimmy with practical support and a grounded perspective.

Emily Merivale

Casual acquaintances in the same social circles, with Emily representing the wealthy world Jimmy rejects.

Anna Cohen

A kind, intellectual friend who shares Jimmy's literary interests and provides emotional support.

Roy Sheffield

A fellow journalist and friend, representing the bohemian newspaper culture of 1920s New York.

Tony Hunter

A wealthy, carefree friend who contrasts with Jimmy's serious nature, yet they share a mutual affection.

Section I

A newspaperman who observes the city's relentless energy and reflects on his own place within it.

Tracks

Present at the Merivale family dinner, recalling childhood bullying of a boy named Iky; later retreats to his room in anger after seeing his drunken uncle.

V: Steamroller

At sixteen, Jimmy is pressured by Uncle Jeff to adopt a business career after his mother's death; he outwardly complies but inwardly rebels against the city's dehumanizing routine.

Section II

Present in the city, navigating his personal and professional life.

I: Great Lady on a White Horse

Visits Ruth Prynne at her boarding house; works as a cub reporter on Hell's Kitchen.

II: Longlegged Jack of the Isthmus

Dines with Ruth Prynne and gossips about the scandalous events at the boarding house.

III: Nine Days' Wonder

Wakes from a dream about a woman to the sound of a burglar alarm and knocking; briefly mentioned in the transition from Phil's accident.

V: Went to the Animals’ Fair

Dances with Ellen and accompanies her to the murder cottage after Baldwin's scene.

VI: Five Statutory Questions

Walks by the Aquarium, meets his cousin Joe Harland, and discusses his dissatisfaction with his reporting job and his ambition.

VIII: One More River to Jordan

Accompanies Ellen after dinner, offering comfort and sharing memories of Stan.

Section III

Jimmy Herf is depicted grappling with his career and personal identity, reflecting on his place in the city.

II: Nickelodeon

Jimmy dines with his wife Ellen at a restaurant, feeling the strain in their marriage and reminiscing about their time in Europe.

III: Revolving Doors

Struggles with his marriage, his job, and a sense of despair, eventually getting drunk and confronting Ellen late at night.

IV: Skyscraper

Quits his job at the Pulitzer Building, wanders the city, contemplates violence, and reflects on his lost youth.

V: The Burden of Nineveh

Drinks with Armand Duval, discusses his social decline, Ellen's marriage to Baldwin, and his own lack of direction.