Short Fiction · Character

Lizzy Newberry

A spirited young widow whose charm and mysterious nighttime absences turn her mild lodger, the minister, into an uneasy and increasingly captivated detective.

major

Also known as Mrs. Lizzy Newberry, Mrs. Newberry, dear Lizzy, the attractive Lizzy

First appearance: The Distracted Preacher

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Lizzy Newberry is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A charming widow secretly involved in smuggling, who captivates Mr.

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Lizzy Newberry keeps her mother's house, runs her household with bustling competence, and manages her lodger Stockdale with a candour that is not without a touch of irony. She vanishes at night, sleeps through thunderous knocking, and leads the minister by lantern-light to barrels hidden beneath a church stair. Whether she is reckless, resourceful, or simply private, her evasions keep Stockdale — and the reader — guessing, and her warmth makes his growing suspicion feel like a betrayal in the making.

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See Lizzy Newberry in The Distracted Preacher

Character Web

59 connections

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Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Haunting Pasts and Duty
Romantic Entanglements and Consequences
Complex Web of Love and Consequences

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional/psychological peak occurs when both Jim and Rosalys consciously recognize their…

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Relationships

Mr. Stockdale
romantic · ambivalent
Mistress Betty
friendship · positive
Anna
friendship · positive
Mr. Stockdale
romantic · ambivalent
Mr. Stockdale
romantic · ambivalent
Mistress Betty
friendship · positive
Anna
friendship · positive
Anna
friendship · positive
Mistress Betty
friendship · positive

Mr. Stockdale
Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures.
Mistress Betty
Lizzy and Mistress Betty are close friends and confidantes, sharing secrets and supporting each other.
Anna
Anna and Lizzy are close friends, often sharing their romantic and personal struggles.
Mr. Stockdale
Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures.
Mr. Stockdale
Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures.
Mistress Betty
Lizzy and Mistress Betty are close friends and confidantes, sharing secrets and supporting each other.
Anna
Anna and Lizzy are close friends, often sharing their romantic and personal struggles.
Anna
Anna and Lizzy are close friends, often sharing their romantic and personal struggles.
Mistress Betty
Lizzy and Mistress Betty are close friends and confidantes, sharing secrets and supporting each other.

Relationship notes

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See Lizzy Newberry in The Distracted Preacher

In the story

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

The Distracted Preacher
A charming widow secretly involved in smuggling, who captivates Mr. Stockdale.
How His Cold Was Cured
A widow who provides lodging for Stockdale; she is attentive and kind, and Stockdale becomes infatuated with her.
How He Saw Two Other Men
Engages in a tense conversation with the miller Owlett; agrees to be Stockdale's sweetheart but refuses to openly discourage Owlett due to smuggling obligations.
III: The Mysterious Greatcoat
Exhibits erratic sleep patterns and is caught brushing a mud-splattered greatcoat, leading to Stockdale's distrust.
IV: At the Time of the New Moon
Disguises herself in her late husband's coat and hat, leads Stockdale to the coast, and lights a signal fire for a smuggling lugger.
How They Went to Lulstead Cove
Leads the smuggling operation to Lulstead Cove with confidence and expertise, directing the carriers and coordinating with Owlett.
VI: The Great Search at Nether-Moynton
Remains outwardly calm during the search, directing Stockdale and later climbing to the church tower to warn the hidden villagers about the officers' plans.
VII: The Walk to Warm’ell Cross and Afterwards
Shows tiredness and a mood not much brighter than Stockdale's; orchestrates the village's passive resistance by removing linchpins and harness parts; leads Stockdale to the attack at Warm'ell Cross; later marries Stockdale and writes a tract using her own experience.
Second Night
Captain Fred Ogbourne, the Duchess's cousin, who is killed by the Duke at the trilithon.
XVII
Not present in this chapter.

Chapter companion notes

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