# Stephen Byrne — The House by the River character guide > Stephen Byrne in The House by the River by A. P. Herbert. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Stephen, VII Stephen Michael Hilary Byrne, Michael Hilary, Stephen Michael Hilary Byrne, the great Stephen Byrne, bubbling Michael, Michael, Mr. Stephen Byrne, Stephen's **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A national idol at twenty-seven, this war-haunted poet is the treasure of The Chase and the handsome, affable center of every room he enters. ## Who they are Stephen Byrne commands the adoration of his neighbors, whose At Homes brighten the moment he arrives, and his war poems have made him the tenderness of England itself. Yet his charm and fame conceal a man who measures other lives against his own convenience, and his reluctance to face old friends hints at something he would rather not examine. His choices set the whole tragedy quietly in motion. ## Relationships ### [John Egerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/john_egerton) _rivalry_ John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict. ### [Margery Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/margery_byrne) _family_ Margery is Stephen's wife, but their marriage is strained by Stephen's infidelity and her growing suspicion and resentment. ### [Muriel Tarrant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/muriel_tarrant) _romantic_ Muriel is Stephen's lover, a passionate and secret affair that fuels much of the novel's tension and tragedy. ### [Emily Gaunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/emily_gaunt) _psychological_ Emily is a manipulative and obsessive figure who exerts a sinister psychological hold over Stephen, exploiting his guilt and weakness. ### [Mrs. Bantam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/mrs_bantam) _professional_ Mrs. Bantam is the Byrne family's housekeeper, loyal to Stephen but increasingly disturbed by the household's secrets. ### [The Chase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/the_chase) _psychological_ The Chase is a physical and symbolic entity representing Stephen's guilt and paranoia, haunting him throughout the story. ### [Joan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/joan) _family_ Joan is Stephen's young daughter, and he has a protective but distant relationship with her, overshadowed by his other obsessions. ### [Margery Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/margery_byrne) _family_ Margery is Stephen's wife, but their marriage is strained by Stephen's infidelity and her growing suspicion and resentment. ### [Emily Gaunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/emily_gaunt) _psychological_ Emily is a manipulative and obsessive figure who exerts a sinister psychological hold over Stephen, exploiting his guilt and weakness. ### [John Egerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/john_egerton) _rivalry_ John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict. ### [John Egerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/john_egerton) _rivalry_ John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict. ### [Emily Gaunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/emily_gaunt) _psychological_ Emily is a manipulative and obsessive figure who exerts a sinister psychological hold over Stephen, exploiting his guilt and weakness. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/i) The celebrated poet and treasure of The Chase, described as handsome, affable, and beautifully mannered, with a complicated face that suggests both nobility and weakness. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/ii) Returns home after dining well, feeling content and proud of his house and life. He accidentally kills Emily Gaunt during a struggle. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/iii) In a state of panic and rage after killing Emily, he enlists John's help to dispose of the body, obsessing over details like the sack and his wife's return. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/iv) Experiences elation after deceiving Mrs. Beach, then feels remorse and prays for forgiveness. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/v) Phones John urgently; has spread a slanderous story about Emily Gaunt to cover her disappearance. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/vi) Stephen is desperate and haggard, pleading with John to find the body. He reveals that the sack has a label with his name and address, heightening the stakes. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/vii) Lies to the police about the sack, manipulates John, and feels exultant relief after the detective leaves. ### [After the Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/viii) Gave evidence at the inquest; remembered lending the sack to Egerton on the day Emily disappeared, appearing pale and hesitant. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/ix) Experiences a disturbing peace of mind after framing John; rationalizes his betrayal by valuing his own artistic worth above John's life; continues writing a heroic poem despite his hypocrisy. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/x) Reluctantly hosts John, broods over the situation, and feels both ashamed and relieved by John's silence. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xi) Flirts with Muriel, enjoys the dance as both personal indulgence and artistic material, feels guilty about his attraction but continues to pursue her. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xii) Engages in a secret affair with Muriel Tarrant, writes love songs, and struggles with the completion of his poem 'Chivalry.' ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xii) Travels with Margery and Nurse to Hampshire. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xiii) Recites his love songs to Muriel, feels disillusioned by her lack of understanding, and abandons their final meeting to work on a new poem. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xiv) Works on his poem, feeling shame and pride; hides its true nature from Margery. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xv) Stephen is confronted by Margery, who has deduced his guilt from his poem. He feels relief at John's silence but also guilt, and is torn between Margery's pleas and his conscience. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xvi) Drinks heavily, writes and burns a confession, gathers wood on the river, and resolves to drown himself, feeling both artistic pride and shame. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xvii) Attempts suicide by jumping into the river but survives, rescued by John; bitter and humiliated. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/chapters/xviii) The deceased poet; his memorial statue is the focus of the chapter, and his true story is finally told. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters/stephen_byrne - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_by_the_river_se/characters