# Cyril Keval — The Absolute at Large character guide

> Cyril Keval in The Absolute at Large by Karel Čapek.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Cyril Keval, Mr. Keval, Keval

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-pantheism

## Snapshot

A young district reporter for the Prague People's Journal who covers the Karburator's grand opening and ends up scrambling for a window when the ceremony goes sideways.

## Who they are

Keval is a working journalist, polite enough to give up his place to a lady and lose his spot at the ceremony, resourceful enough to scale a wall and peer through a grating at the dignitaries inside. His eye for the pompous details of the Central Power Station's unveiling, and his veteran colleague Cvancara's suspicion that something will go wrong, frame the reader's first look at the Karburator's public debut. He matters as the novel's roving witness, the man who notices what the official speeches leave out.

## Relationships

### [Old Rejzek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/old_rejzek)

_friendship_

Cyril Keval and Old Rejzek are companions or fellow travelers, often discussing the strange events surrounding the Absolute.

### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy)

_social_

Cyril Keval is an acquaintance of Bondy, occasionally interacting with him in the broader social and intellectual circles affected by the Absolute.

### [Old Rejzek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/old_rejzek)

_friendship_

Cyril Keval and Old Rejzek are companions or fellow travelers, often discussing the strange events surrounding the Absolute.

### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy)

_social_

Cyril Keval is an acquaintance of Bondy, occasionally interacting with him in the broader social and intellectual circles affected by the Absolute.

### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy)

_social_

Cyril Keval is an acquaintance of Bondy, occasionally interacting with him in the broader social and intellectual circles affected by the Absolute.

### [Old Rejzek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/old_rejzek)

_friendship_

Cyril Keval and Old Rejzek are companions or fellow travelers, often discussing the strange events surrounding the Absolute.

## In the story

### [IX: The Ceremony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/ix-the-ceremony)

District reporter covering the ceremony; he witnesses the strange events inside the power station.

### [XXII: The Old Patriot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xxii-the-old-patriot)

Sits on a table, dangles his legs, and chatters about the latest religious and political conflicts, including a letter from an Old Patriot.

### [The Augsburg Imbroglio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xxiii-the-augsburg-imbroglio)

Mr. Cyril Keval is in Bavaria and provides trustworthy reports on the Augsburg events.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/cyril_keval
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters