Character guide

Iris March

major

Also known as Iris, Iris Storm, Poor Iris, Thoughtful Iris, Suddenly Iris, Miss Iris, Iris Fenwick

The enigmatic and tragic heroine, known for her green hat and scandalous past.

Hilary Townshend

major

Also known as Hilary

The narrator and close friend of Iris, deeply involved in her story.

Napier Harpenden

major

Also known as Napier, Dark Napier, handsome Napier, dear Napier, Poor Napier

A handsome and sensitive man, entangled in a complex relationship with Iris.

Gerald March

supporting

Also known as Gerald, Gerald Haveleur March, poor old Gerald, young Gerald

Iris's brother, a troubled young man with a drinking problem.

Guy de Travest

supporting

Also known as Guy, Poor Guy, catholic Guy, mighty Guy

A wealthy and cynical Frenchman, married to Iris for a time.

Venice Pollen

supporting

Also known as Venice, old Pollen, Pollen, young Venice, Dear Venice

A beautiful and worldly woman, a friend and rival to Iris.

Sir Maurice Harpenden

supporting

Also known as old Maurice Harpenden, Major-General Sir Maurice Harpenden, Maurice, Sir Maurice

Sir Maurice belongs to the older England of military honor and unspoken duty, a world the novel's young people are busy dismantling. His authority over Napier is real but brittle, and the friction between father and son exposes how much the war generation has drifted from its parents. He matters because that generational fracture runs beneath the whole story, shaping choices the younger characters make.

Conrad Masters

supporting

Also known as Masters, Mrs. Conrad Masters, Mrs. Masters, The Masters

Conrad Masters moves through fashionable London medicine, married to a dashing woman and professionally bound to the brilliant, mercenary surgeon Martel-Bonnard. He worries perpetually, snaps like a captain when cornered, and cannot quite conceal the profitable operations that shadow his practice. His anxious evasions about Mrs. Storm's illness pull the narrator into the social web where gossip, medicine, and money quietly decide who gets cared for and who gets used.

Boy Fenwick

supporting

Also known as Boy, the legendary Boy Fenwick, Fenwick

Boy Fenwick survives in drawing-room memory as a phantom of beauty and laughter, a young man of quality whose catholic idealism bordered on obsession. He married Iris when she was barely twenty, and his death at Deauville is officially an accident, though Hilary's careful hints suggest otherwise. That unresolved fall haunts Iris's reputation and gives the novel its central question: what really happened to the man everyone claims to have loved.

Shirley

minor

Also known as pretty Shirley

A young woman who becomes involved with Gerald March.

Mr. Cherry-Marvel

minor

Also known as Cherry-Marvel, Cherry

A flamboyant and eccentric character who appears at social gatherings.

Hugo Cypress

minor

Also known as Hugo, dear Hugo

A friend of the narrator, often found in the social circle.

Virginie

minor

Also known as Sister Virginie

A nun who appears in a scene with Iris.

Truble

minor

Also known as Mr. Truble, old Truble

An older gentleman who is part of the social circle.

Horton

minor

A servant or attendant in the Harpenden household.

Hector Storm

minor

Also known as Hector, Hector Storm V.C.

Iris's brother, a war hero with a troubled life.

Mrs. Oden

minor

Also known as Mr. and Mrs. Oden, Poor Mrs. Oden

A couple who are acquaintances of the main characters.

Barty March

minor

Also known as Barty, the late Barty March, old Barty

Gerald and Iris's deceased father, mentioned in backstory.

Colonel Duck

minor

A military man and acquaintance of the Harpendens.

Lady Eve Chalice

minor

Also known as Eve, Eve Chalice, old Eve Chalice

An older, worldly woman who offers advice.

Mrs. Spirit

minor

Also known as This Mrs. Spirit, old Spirit, Spirit

A mysterious and somewhat sinister figure.

Ava Foe

minor

Also known as Ava

A woman with a past connection to one of the men.

Baron de Belus

minor

Also known as The Baron de Belus

A foreign nobleman who appears at a party.

Mrs. Storm

minor

Also known as Storm

Iris's mother, a formidable and traditional woman.

The General

minor

A military figure who appears in social settings.

Cornelia Pynte

minor

Also known as Mrs. Ammon, Lady Pynte, Pynte

A socialite and friend of the narrator's family.

Anna Estella Guelãra

minor

Also known as Anna Estella

A mysterious and exotic woman who captivates the narrator.

Chevalier Giulio di Risotto

minor

Also known as Risotto

An Italian nobleman who appears at social events.

Eugene Martel-Bonnard

minor

Also known as Martel-Bonnard

A French artist or intellectual in the social circle.

Mr. Townshend

minor

Hilary's father, a figure of authority in his life.

Mr. Trehawke Tush

minor

An eccentric and memorable character at a party.

Mio Mi Marianne

minor

Also known as Mary

A singer or performer who appears briefly.

Young Burton

minor

Also known as Burton

A young man who is part of the social scene.

Moira de Travest

minor

Also known as Moira

Guy's sister, a quiet and observant woman.

Naps

minor

A nickname for a character, possibly Napier.

Mr. Auk

minor

An odd and somewhat comic figure at a gathering.

Billy Swift

minor

Also known as Bill

A young man who is a friend of Gerald's.

Lady de Travest

minor

Guy and Moira's mother, a French aristocrat.

Victor Duck

minor

Also known as Poor Victor Duck

Colonel Duck's son, a young man with troubles.

Alice

minor

A maid or servant in one of the households.

Madame Arpenden

minor

Also known as Madame

Napier's mother, a refined and gentle woman.

Captain Harpenden

minor

A military title for one of the Harpenden men.

Mr. Polly

minor

A minor character mentioned in passing.

Lord Lamorna

minor

Also known as Lamorna

A titled gentleman who appears at social functions.

Sutton Marle

minor

A place name used as a character reference.

Barrie

minor

A friend or acquaintance mentioned briefly.

Lady Tekkleham

minor

A socialite mentioned in the narrative.

Donna Guelãra

minor

Anna Estella's mother, an exotic figure.

Rudolf Valentino

minor

Also known as Rudolf

The famous actor, mentioned as a cultural reference.

Aunt Eve

minor

An aunt of one of the main characters.

Quindle

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant.

Felix Burton

minor

Also known as Felix Burton

A relative of young Burton.

Angela Ammon

minor

Also known as Angel

Cornelia Pynte's daughter.

Peter Page

minor

A young man mentioned in the social circle.

Raymonde

minor

A French woman, possibly a friend of Guy's.

Gloria

minor

A woman mentioned in passing.

Johnny

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant.

The New Voice

minor

Also known as the Voice

An unnamed character who speaks at a gathering.

Lord Portairley

minor

A titled nobleman mentioned in the narrative.

Sebastian Roeskin

minor

An artist or intellectual mentioned briefly.

Jimmy Pethick

minor

Also known as the late Mr. James Pethick

A deceased man mentioned in backstory.

Demoiselle Demimonde

minor

Also known as the Demoiselle

A stage name or nickname for a performer.

Cubby Tyrell

minor

A young man in the social circle.

Tristram

minor

A literary reference used as a character name.

Gabriel

minor

An angelic reference or a character's nickname.

Mademoiselle Printemps

minor

A French woman, possibly a maid or performer.

Charles

minor

A servant or minor character.

Melba

minor

A reference to the singer Nellie Melba.

Saint George

minor

Also known as St. George, Saint George of Cappadocia

A symbolic figure referenced in the narrative.

The Harpendens

minor

The collective family name for Napier's family.

The Townshends

minor

Hilary's family, mentioned collectively.

The Marches

minor

Iris and Gerald's family name.