# Roderick Dart — The Great Roxhythe character guide

> Roderick Dart in The Great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Roderick, the old Roxhythe, Roderick Dart Roxhythe

**First appearance:** 0009-vi-roderick-dart

## Snapshot

Christopher's severe, watchful elder brother — a straitlaced Puritan in a plain dark suit who serves William of Orange and trusts no one, least of all Roxhythe.

## Who they are

Roderick is everything his brother is not: cold, austere, and openly contemptuous of the King's court and its foppish favourite. He comes to Roxhythe's inn only at Christopher's request, hand near his belt, convinced he may be walking into a trap. His honest grey eyes and his suspicion of the man who has taken charge of his impressionable brother make him both a moral counterweight and a useful, wary ally.

## In the story

### [The Great Roxhythe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/the-great-roxhythe)

Roxhythe's father, whose legacy and name shape Roxhythe's identity.

### [Book I: The Ways Run Parallel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/book-i-the-ways-run-parallel)

Introduced as the father of Christopher Dart and the former Roxhythe, with a legacy of loyalty and service.

### [II: The King His Councillors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-king-his-councillors)

Christopher's brother, serves Prince William in Holland and is not suspected by the Prince's governors.

### [Mynheer de Staal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/v-mynheer-de-staal)

Christopher's brother, to be contacted at The Hague under the alias Curtis.

### [VI: Roderick Dart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vi-roderick-dart)

Christopher's brother, a Puritanical servant of Prince William, initially hostile but eventually agrees to take Roxhythe's ring to the Prince.

### [VII: William of Orange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vii-william-of-orange)

Acts as a cautious intermediary, smuggling Roxhythe into the palace and maintaining a cold, hostile demeanor.

### [IX: The King of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ix-the-king-of-england)

Mentioned as the Puritan intermediary who treated Roxhythe with formality and led him through the palace to meet William.

### [V: Lady Crewe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/v-lady-crewe)

Mentioned as being abroad with the Prince of Orange and angry at Christopher's service with Roxhythe.

### [VII: The First Seed of Doubt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vii-the-first-seed-of-doubt)

Christopher recalls his father's warnings about the King and the Court, contrasting them with his current views.

### [IX: The Growth of the Seed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ix-the-growth-of-the-seed)

Mentioned as one who warned Christopher against Roxhythe; discussed briefly.

### [XI: Unrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/xi-unrest)

Writes to Christopher from Holland, reporting the De Witt murders and urging Christopher to leave Roxhythe's service for the Prince of Orange.

### [II: The Husband](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-husband)

Mentioned as Roxhythe's cousin, but not directly present in the chapter.

### [IX: Disillusionment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ix-disillusionment)

Roderick's letter to Christopher exposes Roxhythe's secret dealings with France and the King's perfidy, urging Christopher to leave Roxhythe's service.

### [I: The New Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/i-the-new-master)

Mentioned as Christopher's elder brother, serving with the Prince of Orange.

### [II: The Coming of William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-coming-of-william)

Presented to the King during William's arrival, later dines with Christopher and questions him about his loyalty to Roxhythe.

### [IV: The Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/iv-the-meeting)

Visits with Christopher, expresses concern over his brother's state, and blames Roxhythe for his disillusionment.

### [VI: The Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vi-the-decision)

Christopher's brother, to whom he writes about his coming to the Hague, though Christopher admits he never cared for him greatly.

### [VIII: The Haven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/viii-the-haven)

Broaches the subject of Christopher serving the Prince; later observes Christopher's changed demeanor and introduces him to the Prince's household.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/roderick_dart
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters