# George Allen — The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane character guide > George Allen in The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane by Mark Rutherford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Allen, the Serpent George Allen, Mrs. George, George, Allen **First appearance:** 0001-the-revolution-in-tanner-s-lane ## Snapshot A Cowfold householder whose shelves hold Byron and whose veins carry the Revolution, making him a questionable member of the flock the Broads cannot quite denounce. ## Who they are George Allen belongs to Tanner's Lane on Sundays but to a more dangerous current the rest of the week, his household steeped in Zachariah's letters and the politics of the age. The Broads feel the cross in him — nothing heretical can be proved, yet Mr. Broad hates him with an intensity out of proportion to any fault. He anchors the novel's central friction: respectable Dissent versus the revolutionary leaven seeping into it. ## Relationships ### [Thomas Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/thomas_broad) _rivalry_ George Allen and Thomas Broad are political and personal antagonists, clashing over religious and social ideals. ### [Priscilla Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/priscilla_broad) _family_ George Allen is Priscilla Broad's husband, and their relationship is strained by his political obsessions. ### [Zachariah Coleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/zachariah_coleman) _friendship_ George Allen and Zachariah Coleman are close allies and fellow revolutionaries, bound by shared ideals. ### [Pauline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/pauline) _friendship_ George Allen and Pauline are fellow revolutionaries and friends, though their relationship is complicated by other loyalties. ### [Major Maitland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/major_maitland) _rivalry_ George Allen and Major Maitland are direct opponents in the revolutionary conflict, with deep personal animosity. ### [Brother Allen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/brother_allen) _family_ Brother Allen is George Allen's sibling, and they share a bond of mutual support despite differing temperaments. ### [Thomas Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/thomas_broad) _rivalry_ George Allen and Thomas Broad are political and personal antagonists, clashing over religious and social ideals. ### [Thomas Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/thomas_broad) _rivalry_ George Allen and Thomas Broad are political and personal antagonists, clashing over religious and social ideals. ### [Priscilla Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/priscilla_broad) _family_ George Allen is Priscilla Broad's husband, and their relationship is strained by his political obsessions. ### [Major Maitland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/major_maitland) _rivalry_ George Allen and Major Maitland are direct opponents in the revolutionary conflict, with deep personal animosity. ### [Priscilla Broad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/priscilla_broad) _family_ George Allen is Priscilla Broad's husband, and their relationship is strained by his political obsessions. ### [Zachariah Coleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/zachariah_coleman) _friendship_ George Allen and Zachariah Coleman are close allies and fellow revolutionaries, bound by shared ideals. ## In the story ### [The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/the-revolution-in-tanner-s-lane) Excommunicated from the Tanner's Lane congregation, central figure in the chapter's conflict. ### [XVII: When Wilt Thou Arise Out of Thy Sleep? Yet a Little Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xvii-when-wilt-thou-arise-out-of-thy-sleep-yet-a-little-sleep) Fanny's brother, a newly admitted church member who has not yet prayed at the prayer-meeting; the Broads plan to ask him to engage to divert attention. ### [A Religious Picnic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xviii-a-religious-picnic) George is a hearty, sandy-haired young ironmonger's son who flirts with Priscilla Broad during the picnic. He is practical, hardworking, and takes charge when needed. ### [XXI: The Wisdom of the Serpent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxi-the-wisdom-of-the-serpent) Languishes in love with Priscilla Broad; his suit is the central subject of the chapter. ### [XXII: The Oracle Warns—After the Event](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxii-the-oracle-warns-after-the-event) Marries Priscilla, struggles to explain Free Trade to her, experiences a sleepless night of distress, and handles the flooding crisis. ### [XXIII: Further Development](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxiii-further-development) Frustrated by his wife's inattention and his father-in-law's refusal to vote, he is deeply involved in the county election campaign for the Whigs. ### [XXIV: “I Came Not to Send Peace, but a Sword”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxiv-i-came-not-to-send-peace-but-a-sword) Visits the Colemans, feels a personal connection to Mr. Bradshaw's sermon, and is troubled by his own history and feelings for Priscilla. ### [XXV: “And a Man’s Foes Shall Be They of His Own Household”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxv-and-a-man-s-foes-shall-be-they-of-his-own-household) Barred from the Broad house after the riots; wanders the countryside; writes to Priscilla to return home; is with her when she dies. ### [XXVI: A Professional Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxvi-a-professional-consultation) Grieving his wife, tormented by guilt and doubt, furious at the mention of Pauline in church proceedings. ### [Mr. Broad's Last Church Meeting—Latimer Chapel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxvii-mr-broad-s-last-church-meeting-latimer-chapel) Present at the back of the room with his father; accused of abetting an unruly mob during the political contest; later emigrates to America with his child. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/george_allen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters