Character guide

Mangogul

major

Also known as Tanzai, Zaide, Hiaouf Zeles, Accordingly Mangogul, Inscriptions Mangogul, V Mangogul, the great Mangogul

Mangogul rules Congo with absolute power and an equally absolute appetite for amusement, and when the genius Cucufa hands him a ring that makes women's toys speak, he treats it as a toy of his own. Yet his first impulse is to test it on Mirzoza, the favorite he genuinely loves, and he recoils — terrified that what he hears might cost him the one person he trusts. His experiments ripple through the court, exposing widows, invalids, and hypocrites, and setting up the central question of whether knowledge of others' secrets is worth the price.

Mirzoza

major

Also known as Young Mirzoza, the Ring Mirzoza

Mirzoza holds the Sultan's heart and his ear, and she uses both to puncture his grandiosity with dry sense and sharper judgment. When Mangogul confesses the ring's power, she calls it diabolical and begs him not to use it on her — not from guilt, but from a clear-eyed sense that suspicion destroys what it investigates. Her presence anchors the novel's moral center: she is the reason Mangogul's experiments have a witness who refuses to flatter him.

Selim

supporting

Also known as Signor Selim, the miserable Selim, XLIII Selim

Selim moves through the court as a man of easy charm and complicated conscience, his past full of women like Olympia who come to him with favors and leave with conditions. His long, painful pursuit of Cydalisa — a woman who grants him esteem but withholds love — reveals a man capable of genuine feeling beneath the gallantry. His stories give the novel its texture of social observation, showing how desire, rank, and self-deception operate in the world Mangogul's ring exposes.

Cydalisa

supporting

Also known as Cydalisa Mangogul

A woman whose toy reveals her infidelity to Mangogul.

Alcina

minor

Also known as the Ring Alcina Mangogul

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secret affairs.

Egle

minor

Also known as young Egle, The wretched Egle

A young woman whose toy reveals her innocence and love.

Zelida

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her secret desires.

Kerfael

minor

Also known as Poor Kerfael, wretched Kerfael, The ingrateful Kerfael

A man whose toy reveals his ingratitude and misdeeds.

Erguebzed

minor

Also known as passionate Erguebzed, The Sultan, Sultan, the great Sultan Erguebzed, prince Erguebzed, The prince Erguebzed

A sultan whose reign is discussed in the history of Kanaglou.

Amisadar

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Ricaric

minor

Also known as Mr. Ricaric

A man whose toy speaks, exposing his character.

Haria

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Alphana

minor

Also known as the Ring Alphana The Sultan

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her infidelity.

Manilla

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her character.

Codindo

minor

Also known as one Codindo, Seigneur Codindo, the young Codindo, old Codindo, poor Codindo

A man whose toy speaks, exposing his foolishness.

Fannia

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her affairs.

Fatme

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Cucufa

supporting

Also known as The Genius Cucufa, the Genius, Genius

Cucufa appears as a hooded old figure with horn-owls in hand, speaks with the casual authority of one who has performed greater prodigies for Mangogul's grandfather, and disappears into the air before anyone can ask follow-up questions. He frames the ring as a gift and a test, insisting that the toys will speak 'by the frankest part about them' and adding a warning that there are curiosities best left unindulged. His brief appearance sets the entire plot in motion and plants the novel's central question about whether knowing everything is worth the cost.

Sophia

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her secrets.

Fulvia

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her infidelity.

Kanaglou

minor

Also known as Sultan, the Sultan, The sham Sultan, Kanaglou the Sultan

Mangogul's grandfather, a sultan with a remarkable reign.

Frenicol

minor

Also known as Mr. Frenicol

A man whose toy speaks, exposing his character.

Orcotomus

minor

Also known as Doctor Orcotomus, XIV Orcotomus

A doctor who performs experiments on toys.

Cypria

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Amina

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Turcares

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Bloculocus

minor

Also known as Signor Bloculocus

A man whose toy speaks, exposing his foolishness.

Hippomanes

minor

Also known as the Senator Hippomanes

A senator whose toy speaks, exposing his character.

Celebi

minor

Also known as Poor Celebi, The violent Celebi

A violent man whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Zermounzaid

minor

Also known as the old frozen Sambuco, Dear Zermounzaid, The zealous Zermounzaid

An old man whose toy speaks, revealing his zeal.

Zuleiman

minor

Also known as Dear Zuleiman, dear Zuleiman

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Acaris

minor

Also known as Dear Acaris

A character whose toy speaks, exposing his nature.

Bibicosa

minor

Also known as the marchioness Bibicosa

A marchioness whose toy speaks, exposing her affairs.

Manimonbanda

minor

Also known as the Manimonbanda, the modest Manimonbanda

A modest woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Sambuco

minor

Also known as The Emir, the Emir Sambuco, The credulous Sambuco, old Sambuco

A credulous emir whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Salica

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Monima

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Zelmaida

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Farfadi

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing secrets.

Arsinoe

minor

Also known as the prude Arsinoe

A prude whose toy speaks, exposing her hypocrisy.

Fricamona

minor

Also known as this Fricamona

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Alibeg

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing secrets.

Eolipila

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing secrets.

Hilas

minor

Also known as The miserable Hilas

A man whose toy speaks, revealing his romantic troubles.

Brama

minor

Also known as great Brama

A deity or revered figure mentioned in the narrative.

Sindor

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Thelis

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her character.

Husseim

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Ostaluk

minor

Also known as cruel Ostaluk

A cruel character mentioned in Selim's travels.

Zelais

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Hannetillon

minor

Also known as count Hannetillon

A count whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Sulamek

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Ismene

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Grifgrif

minor

Also known as Pacha, the Pacha Grifgrif

A pacha whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Fadaes

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing secrets.

Eriphila

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her affairs.

Olympia

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Emilia

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Zima

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Cephisa

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Utmiutsol

minor

Also known as Old Utmiutsol

An old man whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Velvet-Paw

minor

Also known as the Selictar Velvet-Paw, the Selictar, the traitor Velvet-Paw

A traitorous selictar whose toy speaks, exposing his deeds.

Zulica

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Alonzo

minor

A character mentioned in Selim's travels.

Marteza

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Ifec

minor

Also known as Poor Ifec

A poor woman whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Marmolin

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Fatima

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Oropeza

minor

Also known as Donna Oropeza

A donna whose toy speaks, revealing her secrets.

Ziguezague

minor

Also known as Poor Ziguezague

A poor character whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Nasses

minor

A character whose toy speaks, exposing secrets.

Utremifasolasiututut

minor

Also known as Young Utremifasolasiututut, Utremifasolasiututut nobody

A young nobody whose toy speaks, revealing his character.

Bramin Brelibibi

minor

Also known as the Bramin Brelibibi, the Bramin

A bramin whose toy speaks, exposing his hypocrisy.

Persiflo

minor

Also known as Persiflo the Vorticist

A vorticist whose toy speaks, revealing his philosophy.

Olibrio

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his secrets.

Alciphenor

minor

A character whose toy speaks, revealing his nature.

Phedima

minor

A woman whose toy speaks, exposing her character.

Reciproco

minor

Also known as The Attractionist Reciproco

An attractionist whose toy speaks, revealing his theories.

Mirolo

minor

A character whose toy speaks, exposing his nature.