# Rossiter — Psmith in the City character guide

> Rossiter in Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Rossiter, Comrade Rossiter

**First appearance:** 0006-iv-first-steps-in-a-business-career

## Snapshot

The postage department's punctilious senior clerk, a stickler for rules whose secret passion for Manchester United becomes the key to Psmith's campaign.

## Who they are

Mr. Rossiter patrols the postage desk with a watchdog's zeal, forever catching Psmith mid-conversation and warning that the bank pays him to work, not to talk about football. Psmith, undeterred, deduces from a single sighting at Chelsea that the man is nuts on Manchester United, then spends a fortnight mastering League trivia until the entente cordiale is complete. His unlikely friendship with Psmith clears the ground for the haunting of Mr. Bickersdyke.

## Relationships

### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith)

_professional_

Rossiter is a senior clerk at the bank who Psmith treats with amused condescension and occasional manipulation.

### [Mike Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mike_jackson)

_professional_

Mike works under Rossiter's supervision at the bank, enduring his fussy and officious manner.

### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith)

_professional_

Rossiter is a senior clerk at the bank who Psmith treats with amused condescension and occasional manipulation.

### [Mike Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mike_jackson)

_professional_

Mike works under Rossiter's supervision at the bank, enduring his fussy and officious manner.

### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith)

_professional_

Rossiter is a senior clerk at the bank who Psmith treats with amused condescension and occasional manipulation.

### [Mike Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mike_jackson)

_professional_

Mike works under Rossiter's supervision at the bank, enduring his fussy and officious manner.

## In the story

### [Psmith in the City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/psmith-in-the-city)

Present at the Clapham Common socialist meeting.

### [First Steps in a Business Career](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/iv-first-steps-in-a-business-career)

The fussy head of the postage department, who is anxious about work and quick to correct his subordinates.

### [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/v-the-other-man)

The head of the postage department, who is flustered by Psmith's arrival and his elaborate, nonsensical explanations.

### [Psmith Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vi-psmith-explains)

Mentioned as the head of the Postage Department; Psmith and Mike worry about his reaction to their extended absence.

### [VII: Going Into Winter Quarters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vii-going-into-winter-quarters)

Confronts Psmith and Mike about their absence; surprisingly defends Psmith to Bickersdyke, earning Psmith's gratitude.

### [VIII: The Friendly Native](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/viii-the-friendly-native)

Head of the postage department; initially rebuffs Psmith's attempts at conversation but later engages over football.

### [The Haunting of Mr. Bickersdyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/ix-the-haunting-of-mr-bickersdyke)

Gradually won over by Psmith's football talk, leading to a truce in the Postage Department.

### [X: Mr. Bickersdyke Addresses His Constituents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/x-mr-bickersdyke-addresses-his-constituents)

Head of the Postage Department, reports to Mr. Bickersdyke that Psmith's work is perfect.

### [In a Nutshell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xii-in-a-nutshell)

Briefly mentioned as being disrupted by Bickersdyke's anger and unable to discuss football with Psmith.

### [Mike Is Moved On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xiii-mike-is-moved-on)

Mr. Rossiter becomes more agreeable under Psmith's influence, no longer reporting subordinates to the manager.

### [Mr. Waller Appears in a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xiv-mr-waller-appears-in-a-new-light)

Mentioned as Psmith's colleague in the Postage Department, with whom he discusses Manchester United's defeat.

### [And Takes Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxii-and-takes-steps)

Rossiter appears briefly, prompting Psmith to return to his ledger.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/rossiter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters