# Mr. Briggs — The Enchanted April character guide

> Mr. Briggs in The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Thomas Briggs, Thomas, the observant Briggs

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

The orphaned owner of San Salvatore, a warm-hearted bachelor who longs for family and finds himself drawn to the women who have taken his house.

## Who they are

Thomas Briggs is the young, unmarried proprietor of the castle, lonely enough to have let it out for the spring and domestic enough to feel the absence of a wife and children keenly. Walking with Rose along his own paths, he confesses he is an orphan and an only child, and tells her she is 'exactly my idea of a family.' His gentle, unguarded longing for warmth and beauty makes him a quiet counterweight to the novel's more brittle marriages.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/iii)

Owner of the medieval castle; writes a polite letter requesting references and half the rent in advance; waives references after meeting Mrs. Arbuthnot.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/xvii)

Arrives at San Salvatore and is immediately captivated by Rose's likeness to a Madonna painting; speaks fluent Italian; prefers to walk with Rose rather than meet Mrs. Fisher.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/xviii)

Briggs openly admires Rose, tells her of the impression she made in London, and feels a warm domestic longing. He also appreciates Mrs. Fisher, treating her with kindness that helps her emerge from her shell.

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

Arrives at San Salvatore and is immediately overwhelmed by Scrap's beauty, becoming silent, clumsy, and infatuated.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/xx)

Struggles with his tie before dinner, having been smitten by Rose.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/xxi)

Briggs is uneasy at dinner, fidgeting and staring at the door, anxious about Lady Caroline's absence.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/chapters/xxii)

Infatuated with Scrap; ignores Mr. Wilkins and continues gazing at her in the garden.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/characters/mr_briggs
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_enchanted_april_se/characters