Short Fiction · Character

Imogene Bissel

The beautiful Imogene Bissel moves through wealthy Baltimore society as the kind of girl Anson Hunter can pursue, charm, and lose without ever quite possessing.

supporting

Also known as Imogene, the beautiful Imogene Bissel

First appearance: bernice bobs her hair

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Imogene Bissel is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A thirteen-year-old girl just back from Europe, with large brown eyes and a gnome-like face; Basil becomes infatuated with her.

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Imogene belongs to the glittering social set whose marriages, scandals, and reputations Anson Hunter treats as his personal jurisdiction. She becomes entangled with Anson's circle at the moment his control over his sister Edna's affair is fraying, and her presence sharpens the contrast between his romantic authority and his emotional emptiness. Her beauty and availability make her both a prize and a mirror, showing how Anson's need to dominate women quietly ruins whatever tenderness he might have offered.

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The fuller portrait of Imogene Bissel sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Imogene Bissel in bernice bobs her hair

Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Imogene Bissel sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Social circles and charm
Protagonist
Social climbers and romantics

+10 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Val reaches his emotional and psychological peak in this passage as he confronts the painful gap between his r…

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Relationships

Basil Duke Lee
romantic · ambivalent
Basil is infatuated with the popular Imogene, experiencing the pangs of adolescent… How this plays out →
Basil Duke Lee
romantic · ambivalent
Basil is infatuated with the popular Imogene, experiencing the pangs of adolescent… How this plays out →
Basil Duke Lee
romantic · ambivalent
Basil is infatuated with the popular Imogene, experiencing the pangs of adolescent… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Imogene Bissel in bernice bobs her hair

In the story

Imogene Bissel appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
II
III
+2 more

I
A thirteen-year-old girl just back from Europe, with large brown eyes and a gnome-like face; Basil becomes infatuated with her.
II
Basil's crush, who is captivated by Hubert Blair's antics and chooses to leave with him.
III
Briefly recalled as 'washed out' from Basil's mind during the storm.
IV
Mentioned as the person Hubert believes called him, but the call was actually a decoy by Basil.
V
Thirteen-year-old Imogene is the hostess of the evening, initially bored but then annoyed by Basil's interference and Hubert's tall tale.
VI
Basil's former infatuation; he now sees her as just a familiar little girl.
II
A dark little beauty and the most popular girl in the crowd; she names Basil as her favorite boy during the game of Truth.
III
Basil's romantic interest who becomes distant and dismissive, influenced by rumors about Basil's conceit.
IV
Waves at Basil from her house and joins him for a ride in the electric car.
I
Considered for the leading lady role but is said to be sick.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Imogene Bissel unlock in the free preview.

See Imogene Bissel in bernice bobs her hair

See Imogene Bissel in I