# Ashe Marson — Something New character guide

> Ashe Marson in Something New by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Ashe, Marson, Mr. Marson

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

A lazy young American in London with an incurable nose for other people's business, prodded into adventure by a girl who turns out to be his rival.

## Who they are

Ashe Marson drifts through London until Joan Valentine's lecture on enterprise shames him into pursuing a five-thousand-dollar reward for a stolen scarab at Blandings Castle. He possesses that rare quality of 'rubber' — an inability to leave a mystery alone — but also a comfortable sloth that makes him an unlikely adventurer. His partnership with Joan is complicated by the fact that only one of them can claim the prize, and his old-fashioned notions about a man's proper role in a burglary keep colliding with her competence.

## Relationships

### [Joan Valentine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/joan_valentine)

_romantic_

They are a romantic couple who team up to solve a mystery and eventually fall in love.

### [J. Preston Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/j_preston_peters)

_professional_

Ashe is hired by Peters to retrieve a stolen scarab, creating an employer-employee dynamic.

### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/freddie_threepwood)

_friendship_

They become friendly allies, with Freddie often assisting Ashe in his schemes.

### [Beach](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/beach)

_professional_

Beach, the butler, serves Ashe and other guests, maintaining a formal servant-guest relationship.

### [Rupert Baxter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/rupert_baxter)

_rivalry_

They are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Ashe's motives and working against him.

### [R. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/r_jones)

_friendship_

They work together as allies in the investigation, sharing information and plans.

### [Mr. Ferris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/mr_ferris)

_professional_

Ferris is a fellow detective or associate, working with Ashe on the case.

### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/lord_emsworth)

_social_

They are host and guest, with Ashe staying at Emsworth's estate as a visitor.

### [Joan Valentine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/joan_valentine)

_romantic_

They are a romantic couple who team up to solve a mystery and eventually fall in love.

### [J. Preston Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/j_preston_peters)

_professional_

Ashe is hired by Peters to retrieve a stolen scarab, creating an employer-employee dynamic.

### [R. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/r_jones)

_friendship_

They work together as allies in the investigation, sharing information and plans.

### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/freddie_threepwood)

_friendship_

They become friendly allies, with Freddie often assisting Ashe in his schemes.

## In the story

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

Struggling writer of Gridley Quayle stories; performs morning exercises; feels restless and discontented.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/iv)

Accepts the job from Mr. Peters to recover the scarab, then tells Joan about his new role as a valet.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/v)

Arrives at Blandings Castle, meets Beach the butler, and later covers for Joan when her identity is nearly exposed.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/vi)

Confronted by Baxter in the hall, he uses the excuse of reading to Mr. Peters to avoid suspicion. Later, he meets Joan and acknowledges their competing goals.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/ix)

Ashe cleverly substitutes the incriminating shoe and throws it out the window, then watches Baxter's futile search.

### [The Missing Scarab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/x)

Receives praise from Mr. Peters but feels chagrin that Joan succeeded where he failed; later discovers the scarab is missing and resolves not to share the reward.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/xi)

Deduces Freddie's involvement in the scarab theft and reveals the truth about the blackmail plot.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/ashe_marson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters