# Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov — The Secret City character guide > Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov in The Secret City by Hugh Walpole. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Alexei Petrovitch, Semyonov, Alexei **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Who they are A Russian intellectual serving on the Galician front, his name alone is enough to stir the narrator's buried memories of a year he has tried hard to forget. ## Relationships ### [Nicholas Markovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch) _friendship_ Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _friendship_ Alexei is a loyal friend to Vera, offering counsel and emotional support. ### [Nina Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nina_michailovna) _friendship_ Alexei and Nina are close friends, sharing intellectual interests and mutual respect. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _rivalry_ Alexei and Henry are intellectual and romantic rivals, frequently at odds. ### [Ivan Andreievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/ivan_andreievitch) _friendship_ Alexei and Ivan share a respectful friendship, often discussing politics and philosophy. ### [Nicholas Markovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch) _friendship_ Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other. ### [Nicholas Markovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch) _friendship_ Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _friendship_ Alexei is a loyal friend to Vera, offering counsel and emotional support. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _friendship_ Alexei is a loyal friend to Vera, offering counsel and emotional support. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _rivalry_ Alexei and Henry are intellectual and romantic rivals, frequently at odds. ### [Ivan Andreievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/ivan_andreievitch) _friendship_ Alexei and Ivan share a respectful friendship, often discussing politics and philosophy. ### [Nina Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nina_michailovna) _friendship_ Alexei and Nina are close friends, sharing intellectual interests and mutual respect. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as someone the narrator has known intimately. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as Vera's uncle, serving on the Galician front; the narrator knew him well from the war. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) Uncle Ivan; arrives dressed smartly, in a state of excitement, and makes awkward conversation. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Appears suddenly in the doorway at the end of the party, causing Markovitch's face to stiffen. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Arrives unexpectedly at the party, causing a somber atmosphere; engages Durward in tense conversation. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiv) Haunts the narrator's fever dreams, watching and sneering at him throughout his illness. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xv) Visits Markovitches; Bohun finds him decent, Lawrence hates him. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xix) Seen by Durward at the Jews' Market, advancing from the church and waving. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xx) Confronts Durward in the market, reveals his knowledge of Vera and Lawrence's feelings, and tells a disturbing story about a man who sought death through manipulation. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xxii) Quiet observer; flatters Markovitch and seems to anticipate the conflict. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ii) Recalled in Durward's flashbacks to the war; his return triggered memories. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iii) Appears in Durward's memory, smiling behind the others. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iv) Visits Durward to demand he leave Russia and stop interfering with Vera and Nina. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as part of the mysterious figure; the narrator feels relieved after his evening with Semyonov. ### [Nina's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Manipulates Nina by pretending to support her love for Lawrence, while secretly plotting to turn her against Markovitch's inventions. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) Watches Markovitch with a speculative smile during dinner. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as watching Markovitch at the previous evening's gathering. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as having tea with Vera and Nina at the Astoria; Bohun distrusts him. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi) Reminds Markovitch of past happiness with Vera and doubts his experiments. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Sneers at the Revolution and provokes Vera by mentioning Lawrence's danger. ### [Part III: Markovitch and Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/part-iii-markovitch-and-semyonov) Semyonov's perspective on the revolution is explored, showing his adaptability and cynical realism. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as someone Durward wonders about, but who has not visited him. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iii) Has moved into the Markovitch flat, displacing Nicholas's inventions. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iv) Semyonov is now living in the Markovitch flat, which the narrator sees as a troubling development. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/v) Moves into the Markovitch flat; described as amiable but mocking, and suspected of influencing Nina's actions. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Vera's uncle; she has hated him since childhood; he has a manipulative influence over Nicholas; plans to move into the flat. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) Discussed by Markovitch as living with them, influencing him, and being cynical. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Taunts Nicholas about the Revolution and his relationship with Vera, provoking the confrontation. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned in Bohun's account of the tense atmosphere at the Markovitch flat; his musical box is a source of irritation. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/x) Lawrence refers to Semyonov as a 'swine' and 'devil' who is ragging Nicholas about the kiss, exacerbating the situation. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi) Visits the narrator to say goodbye, appearing haggard and speaking cryptically about his departure and his obsession with a woman the narrator knew. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Provokes Markovitch with taunts about his failures and the Revolution, remaining calm and mocking throughout the confrontation. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Manipulates Markovitch, urging him to keep Lawrence in Russia to make Vera unhappy; Durward fears him. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi) The target of Markovitch's pursuit; he is shot by Markovitch at Katerinhof and dies with a triumphant cry of 'At last!' ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters