Short Fiction · Character

The General

A sneering, upturned-moustache conspirator whose soft, enormous voice commands a plot to kill the king at midnight mass.

supporting

Also known as the general, The general

First appearance: lord oakhurst s curse

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

Not explicitly named but implied as one of the three cronies; referred to as 'the major' in the excerpt.

In the storyThe WinnerOpen this moment free

See The General in The Winner Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

He is the huge man in black who presides over the conspirators' table, stroking his moustache while Captain Desrolles pounds for open murder and the countess offers her poet as messenger. His habit of softening violence into courtesy makes him more chilling than the hot-headed captain beside him. He matters because his calm agreement turns a squabbling plot into a plan that will soon reach a guileless boy's garret door.

Continue beside the text

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

See The General in lord oakhurst s curse

Character Web

25 connections

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

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Con artists and schemers
Married and older characters
Military and social types
Diverse ensemble of recurring types

+20 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it captures the precise moment the protagonist’s humor shifts f…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Unknown Narrator
professional · ambivalent
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with… How this plays out →
Unknown Narrator
professional · ambivalent
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with… How this plays out →
Unknown Narrator
professional · ambivalent
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with… How this plays out →

Unknown Narrator
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy.
Unknown Narrator
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy.
Unknown Narrator
The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy.

Relationship notes

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

See The General in lord oakhurst s curse

In the story

The General appears across 24 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Winner
Not explicitly named but implied as one of the three cronies; referred to as 'the major' in the excerpt.
Solemn Thoughts
The white-bearded Philadelphian who longs for home.
Too Late
General Splasher, father of Inez, leads the rescue but is horrified by the outcome.
Rouge Et Noir
General Pilar, Minister of War, supports Ramon Olivarra and delivers the keys of Casa Morena.
A Ghost of a Chance
Mentioned as General Greene, under whom Captain Kinsolving supposedly served.
Art and the Bronco
Senator Mullens, representing the San Saba country, introduces the bill to purchase the painting.
The Whirligig of Life
Justice Benaja Widdup, the presiding justice of the peace.
The Fourth in Salvador
General Mary Esperanza Dingo, a Salvadorian friend who promises to help celebrate the Fourth but ends up leading a chaotic military skirmish.
The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes
Referred to as Major Winfield R. Ellison, a Virginia gentleman traveling with his wife and three daughters.
The Emancipation of Billy
General Deffenbaugh, the Governor's friend and aide, who assists him on his daily walks and orchestrates the town's reception for the presidential party.
One Thousand Dollars
Not present in this chapter.
The Diamond of Kali
General Marcellus B. Ludlow, the globetrotter and connoisseur who claims to possess the diamond of Kali and recounts his adventures.
The Rathskeller and the Rose
Not present in this chapter.
The Church with an Overshot-Wheel
Not directly present; no character with this ID appears in the excerpts.
The Making of a New Yorker
Not present in this chapter.
The Girl and the Habit
Not directly present; the excerpt does not feature this character.
An Adjustment of Nature
Not present in this chapter.
Blind Man's Holiday
Mentioned as a figure in the café; not directly involved in the main plot.
The Handbook of Hymen
Not present in this chapter.
Calloway's Code
Not directly present; the story focuses on the Enterprise staff.
Proof of the Pudding
Not present in this chapter.
II
Old Jerome, Nevada's uncle, approves the outing and comments on Gilbert's character.
No Story
Not present in this chapter.
A Poor Rule
Not present in this chapter.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for The General unlock in the free preview.

See The General in lord oakhurst s curse

See The General in The Winner