# Boris Nicolaievitch Grogoff — The Secret City character guide

> Boris Nicolaievitch Grogoff in The Secret City by Hugh Walpole.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Grogoff, Boris Grogoff, Boris Nicolaievitch, Boris, the Grogoff

**First appearance:** 0005-ii

## Snapshot

A loud, generous young Socialist who haunts the Markovitch flat, shouting his opinions, despising Markovitch, and patronising the narrator with rough kindness.

## Who they are

No relation to the family, Boris Nicolaievitch Grogoff is a handsome, curly-haired internationalist who spends most of his time in the Markovitch flat, declaiming at the top of his voice or glaring moodily at the floor. He despises Markovitch, patronises Ivan Andreievitch, yet would give away anything he owned if asked. His restless energy and sudden generosities make him a fixture of the household's noisy, argumentative life, and his unexplained presence there quietly unsettles the narrator's account of the family.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi)

A handsome, energetic internationalist Socialist who spends much time at the Markovitch flat, often gesticulating and expressing opinions loudly.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii)

Present at the dinner; engages in a heated argument with Nina.

### [Markovitch's Confidences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/x)

Referenced by Markovitch as someone who shouts about 'cheap Socialism'.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii)

A striking but ill-educated figure, self-confident and loudly socialist, yet kindly; suspected of caring for Nina.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi)

Loves Nina; Vera fears his influence over her.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvii)

Mentioned by Nina as someone like whom men might save Russia, but she scoffs at the idea.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xxii)

Drunk and provocative; argues about the war and throws a glass at Markovitch, later apologizes.

### [Part II: Lawrence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/part-ii-lawrence)

Nina's lover; his elopement with Nina is a pivotal event.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/v)

Seen standing in the doorway of the Cave de la Grave with an exalted, bewildered expression, like a ghost warning the narrator.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii)

Referenced in Durward's thoughts as a source of revolutionary eloquence.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi)

Seen by Markovitch as a transformed, powerful orator addressing a crowd of soldiers.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii)

Briefly mentioned as resembling a young student in Nina's story.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iv)

Grogoff is arrogant and self-satisfied, refusing to marry Nina and claiming she will assist him in his revolutionary work.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi)

Nina runs away with him; Vera distrusts him and knows Nina does not love him.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiv)

Spotted by the narrator at the meeting, listening with a contemptuous sneer.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xv)

Nina's captor; Bohun sneaks into his flat while Grogoff is out with Lenin.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi)

Appears in the narrator's dream, along with others, as part of the surreal background.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/boris_grogoff
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters