# August Hempel — So Big character guide

> August Hempel in So Big by Edna Ferber.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Hempel, old August Hempel, Aug, Old Aug Hempel

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Who they are

Julie's wealthy and domineering father, a Chicago business magnate.

## Relationships

### [Selina DeJong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/selina_dejong)

_social_

A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and business acumen.

### [Julie Hempel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/julie_hempel)

_family_

Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.

### [Selina DeJong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/selina_dejong)

_social_

A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and business acumen.

### [Julie Hempel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/julie_hempel)

_family_

Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.

### [Julie Hempel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/julie_hempel)

_family_

Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/i)

Julie's father, a Clark Street butcher who later becomes a packer.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/ii)

Arranges Selina's teaching position at High Prairie; a shrewd butcher and future packing magnate.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/xii)

Visits the farm, assesses the land, and advises Selina that people must make their own mistakes.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/xv)

Mentioned as having lived in Chicago for over half a century but never explored it; also noted as refusing to visit Stormwood.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/xvi)

Old Aug Hempel is mentioned as a member of the Noon Club, one of the 'big men' of Chicago's financial circle, who smokes cheap light panatellas.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/chapters/xix)

Visits Selina at the farm, and they share snickering remarks about the North Shore crowd.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters/august_hempel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/so_big_se/characters