Character guide

Unknown

major

Also known as I, myself, me, yourself, your, myself

A restless pilgrim who vows to walk from his boyhood valley to Rome, trading comfort for rough roads, early Mass, and thirty miles a day.

Ruth

supporting

Also known as myself, mine

A woman invoked in the narrator's wanderings, part companion, part memory, who quietly tests whether a vow can survive the pull of home.

Auctor

supporting

The book's wry authorial voice, forever interrupting the journey to argue with reviewers, mock prefaces, and insist the reader keep walking.

Pedant

minor

A caricature of an overly scholarly or pedantic figure.

Father

minor

A priest or paternal figure addressed by the narrator.

Mr. Hard Lector

minor

Also known as Lector

A named character, possibly a reader or critic addressed directly.

Hephzibah

supporting

A domestic figure summoned in the narrator's recollections, grounding his grand pilgrimage in the small, stubborn textures of ordinary life.

Devil

supporting

Also known as the Devil, The Devil, yourself, your

The tempter who shadows the pilgrim's road, offering easy shortcuts and comfortable excuses in place of the hard vow to walk to Rome.

St. Michael

minor

Also known as Michael, himself

An archangel who appears as a protector or guide to the narrator.

The Master

minor

A figure of authority, possibly a religious or philosophical mentor.

Germans

minor

Also known as the Germans, The Germans, their

A group of people encountered by the narrator, often as soldiers or locals.

Padre Eterno

minor

Also known as the Padre Eterno

A divine figure, God the Father, referenced in prayers or visions.

St. Charles Borromeo

minor

Also known as St. Charles, a Borromeo, himself

A saint invoked or appearing as a model of piety.

The French

minor

Also known as the northern French, their

A national group encountered during the narrator's travels.

Sir John Growl

minor

Also known as himself

A comedic or satirical character, possibly a caricature of an Englishman.

The Priest

minor

A clergyman who interacts with the narrator during the pilgrimage.

A Young Priest

minor

Also known as him

A younger cleric met on the road, possibly a fellow traveler.

The Italians

minor

Also known as their, themselves

Local inhabitants of Italy encountered by the narrator.

Mr. Benjamin Franklin Hard

minor

Also known as Mr. Hard

A named character, possibly a fellow traveler or acquaintance.

Huc! Pater

minor

Also known as Pater

A Latin exclamation or address to a father figure, possibly a character.

St. Louis

minor

A saint referenced as a model of kingship or faith.

Mr. Fingle

minor

Also known as Fingle

A minor character, possibly a tradesman or local figure.

Authority

minor

An abstract or personified figure representing institutional power.

Englishman

minor

A generic English traveler or national stereotype.

Acedes

minor

A named character, possibly a local or fellow pilgrim.

Lord Saxonthorpe

minor

A titled character, likely a minor aristocrat encountered.

Andiamo

minor

A character whose name means 'let's go' in Italian, possibly a guide.

James Bayle

minor

A named historical or fictional figure referenced in the narrative.

Bacchus

minor

The Roman god of wine, invoked or mentioned in a classical context.

The Highlanders

minor

Also known as their

Scottish highlanders encountered or referenced during travels.

King Alfred

minor

The historical English king, mentioned as a cultural reference.