# Sir Walter Wanless — Short Fiction character guide

> Sir Walter Wanless in Short Fiction by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Walter, Lady Wanless, Lady Wanless Sir Walter Wanless, Wanless, Walter

**First appearance:** 0097-iii-lady-wanless

## Snapshot

A baronet of five contested elections whose name and handsome daughter are the ladder Mrs. Rossiter wants her son to climb.

## Who they are

Sir Walter Wanless stands at the edge of the story as the prize of connection: great influence, a county contested five times, and a daughter, Georgiana, whose manners and complexion are beyond reproach. His family has little money, which only makes the alliance more purely a matter of position. He never appears in the argument directly, yet his name is the standard against which Alice Dugdale's homely virtues are weighed.

## In the story

### [Major Rossiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ii-major-rossiter)

Sir Walter is mentioned as a grand, influential figure who has contested the county five times. His daughters have little money, but his social standing makes him a desirable connection.

### [Lady Wanless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iii-lady-wanless)

The Baronet, father of the family, makes brief appearances, welcoming the Major and recalling their fathers' university days.

### [IV: The Beethamites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iv-the-beethamites)

Sir Walter is the father of Miss Wanless, and his family's status is a factor in the village's approval of the match.

### [The Invitation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/v-the-invitation)

Lady Wanless orchestrates the invitation to Brook Park and is known for her matchmaking. She is seen as a scheming mother trying to secure husbands for her daughters.

### [The Archery Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/vi-the-archery-meeting)

The Baronet is genial but detached, joking with the Major about the meeting.

### [Sir Walter Up in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/viii-sir-walter-up-in-london)

Sir Walter visits Major Rossiter in London to demand an explanation regarding his daughter Georgiana, but leaves without satisfaction.

### [Sir Walter Up in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/viii-sir-walter-up-in-london)

Lady Wanless orchestrates the confrontation, hoping to secure the Major as a son-in-law despite his reluctance.

### [Lady Deepbell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ix-lady-deepbell)

Sir Walter is mentioned as having been an ineffective messenger to Rossiter; his report that Rossiter's father was not educated at Christchurch disappoints Lady Wanless.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/sir_walter_wanless
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters