# Old Brown — Short Fiction character guide

> Old Brown in Short Fiction by Beatrix Potter.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Old Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown, old Mr. Brown

**First appearance:** 0001-the-tale-of-squirrel-nutkin

## Snapshot

An owl on Owl Island who accepts the squirrels' minnows, beetles, and honey in silence while Nutkin taunts him with riddles.

## Who they are

Old Brown is the owl whose island the squirrels visit each day to gather nuts, and he receives their gifts with one eye open and no word of thanks. He takes no interest in riddles, not even when the answer is provided, but he does take an interest in eggs, and he turns up his eyes in disgust at Nutkin's impertinence. His patience is the quiet counterweight to Nutkin's noise, and the story's tension lies in waiting to see how long that patience will hold.

## In the story

### [The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_7_se/chapters/the-tale-of-squirrel-nutkin)

The owl who owns Owl Island and is repeatedly taunted by Nutkin.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_7_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Depicted as the owl on Owl Island, interacting with the squirrels.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_7_se/characters/old_brown
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_7_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_7_se/characters