# Nella Racksole — The Grand Babylon Hotel character guide > Nella Racksole in The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Racksole, Nella **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-millionaire-and-the-waiter ## Snapshot Racksole's imperious, quick-witted daughter, who runs hotel business from a chair of office and keeps secrets even a prince cannot pry loose. ## Who they are Nella moves through the Grand Babylon with the assurance of someone who always gets what she wants and insists it has nothing to do with her father's dollars. She and Prince Aribert share a charged history from a rainy afternoon in Paris that neither will fully explain. Her sharp instincts and her terse note to her father — keep an eye on Rocco — quietly steer the investigation from the domestic side. ## Relationships ### [Prince Aribert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/prince_aribert) _romantic_ Nella and Prince Aribert share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship and mutual affection. ### [Theodore Racksole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/theodore_racksole) _family_ Nella is Theodore Racksole's daughter, and they share a close, supportive father-daughter relationship. ### [Jules](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/jules) _rivalry_ Jules is hostile toward Nella Racksole, often attempting to undermine or harm her. ### [Tom Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/tom_jackson) _friendship_ Nella and Tom Jackson are friendly acquaintances, with Tom assisting her in various hotel matters. ### [Félix Babylon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/felix_babylon) _social_ Félix Babylon and Nella Racksole are polite acquaintances, interacting as hotel owner and guest. ### [Reginald Dimmock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/reginald_dimmock) _rivalry_ Nella Racksole distrusts Reginald Dimmock, viewing him as a threat to her and her father. ### [Baroness Zerlinski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/baroness_zerlinski) _social_ Baroness Zerlinski and Nella Racksole are fellow guests at the hotel, with a cordial but distant acquaintance. ### [Prince Aribert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/prince_aribert) _romantic_ Nella and Prince Aribert share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship and mutual affection. ### [Prince Aribert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/prince_aribert) _romantic_ Nella and Prince Aribert share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship and mutual affection. ### [Theodore Racksole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/theodore_racksole) _family_ Nella is Theodore Racksole's daughter, and they share a close, supportive father-daughter relationship. ### [Reginald Dimmock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/reginald_dimmock) _rivalry_ Nella Racksole distrusts Reginald Dimmock, viewing him as a threat to her and her father. ### [Jules](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/jules) _rivalry_ Jules is hostile toward Nella Racksole, often attempting to undermine or harm her. ## In the story ### [I: The Millionaire and the Waiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/i-the-millionaire-and-the-waiter) Theodore Racksole's daughter, staying in room 111, who finds the hotel's cuisine unappealing. ### [How Mr. Racksole Obtained His Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/ii-how-mr-racksole-obtained-his-dinner) Racksole's daughter, who encourages her father's impulsive purchase and introduces her friend Reginald Dimmock at dinner. ### [At Three A.M.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/iii-at-three-a-m) Dines with Reginald Dimmock on the terrace, engaging in conversation about European royalty and the Grand Duke's visit. ### [Entrance of the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/iv-entrance-of-the-prince) Nella takes over Miss Spencer's position at the hotel bureau, surprising her father, and later reveals she knows Prince Aribert's incognito identity. ### [V: What Occurred to Reginald Dimmock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/v-what-occurred-to-reginald-dimmock) Leads Prince Aribert to the Louis XV chamber, discusses their past meeting, and is shocked by Dimmock's death. ### [In the Gold Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/vi-in-the-gold-room) Accompanies her father to the observation room, notes Jules on the balcony, and discusses the strange events. ### [Nella and the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/vii-nella-and-the-prince) Observes Prince Aribert's distress, arranges a meeting, and learns about Prince Eugen's disappearance; offers her support. ### [Arrival and Departure of the Baroness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/viii-arrival-and-departure-of-the-baroness) Observes the Baroness Zerlinski, discovers her disguise as Miss Spencer, and follows her to Ostend to confront her. ### [Two Women and the Revolver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/ix-two-women-and-the-revolver) Confronts Miss Spencer with a revolver, interrogates her about Jules and Prince Eugen, and eventually faints after losing the upper hand. ### [At Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/x-at-sea) Awakens on a yacht after being kidnapped; shows defiance and courage in confronting Jules. ### [Rocco and Room No. 111](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xii-rocco-and-room-no-111) Leaves a note for her father saying she is following a clue and warns him to watch Rocco. ### [XIV: Rocco Answers Some Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xiv-rocco-answers-some-questions) Sends a telegram from Ostend urgently summoning her father. ### [End of the Yacht Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xv-end-of-the-yacht-adventure) Rescued from abduction; shows bravery and calmness; sends telegram to her father. ### [The Woman with the Red Hat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xvi-the-woman-with-the-red-hat) Dines with father and Prince, opposes calling the police, is sent to bed by Racksole, described as spirited and difficult to manage. ### [The Release of Prince Eugen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xvii-the-release-of-prince-eugen) Arrives at the house, examines Eugen, and diagnoses him with brain fever. ### [XVIII: In the Nighttime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-nighttime) Takes charge as nurse, insists Eugen must not be moved, faints after thinking she saw Jules, and receives Aribert's confession of love. ### [XIX: Royalty at the Grand Babylon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xix-royalty-at-the-grand-babylon) Mentioned as the object of Aribert's love; Eugen recalls Aribert kissing her in Ostend. ### [In the Wine Cellars of the Grand Babylon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxii-in-the-wine-cellars-of-the-grand-babylon) Discovered hiding in the small wine cellar by her father, Theodore Racksole. ### [Further Events in the Cellar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxiii-further-events-in-the-cellar) Discovers the grating, enters the cellar, and recounts her adventure; shows keen observation and a desire to catch the burglar. ### [The Confession of Mr. Tom Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxvii-the-confession-of-mr-tom-jackson) Mentioned by Racksole as having had a narrow escape from murder on Jules' steam yacht. ### [XXVIII: The State Bedroom Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxviii-the-state-bedroom-once-more) Assists as a nurse during Eugen's crisis and later seeks her father's help to save Eugen. ### [XXIX: Theodore Is Called to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxix-theodore-is-called-to-the-rescue) Persuades her father to raise a million pounds for Prince Eugen and reveals her love for Prince Aribert. ### [XXX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxx-conclusion) Consents to marry Prince Aribert; receives a settlement of fifty million dollars from her father. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/nella_racksole - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters