# The Nature of a Crime — Character guide

> Key figures in The Nature of a Crime by Joseph Conrad.

- [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/unknown_narrator.md): He is the first-person consciousness of the book, a writer who once buried a story with a Collaborator and is now morbidly driven to resurrect it in definitive form before posterity can dismember it. His distinctive tens
- [Edward Burden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/edward_burden.md): Edward Burden is the confident worshipper of law, property, and the august constitution, arriving at the narrator's office with his hat held before his mouth like a man in church. His flaw is a complacent faith in obviou
- [Miss Averies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/miss_averies.md): Miss Averies is Edward Burden's fiancée, brought to the narrator's office to secure the money for a motorcar and a wedding journey to Italy. Unlike her confident betrothed, she appears as a rather frightened fawn before 
- [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/robert.md): A named individual, possibly a friend or acquaintance, with limited but notable presence.
- [Annie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/annie.md): A named woman, possibly a servant or acquaintance, appearing briefly.
- [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/johnson.md): A named individual, possibly a colleague or servant, with a minor role.
- [Zola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/zola.md): Referenced as a literary figure, possibly discussed by characters, but not a scene presence.
- [Tristan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/tristan.md): Mentioned as a legendary figure, likely in a literary or metaphorical context.
- [Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters/death.md): Personified concept, referenced metaphorically rather than as an active character.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/characters