# Nicholas Markovitch — The Secret City character guide > Nicholas Markovitch in The Secret City by Hugh Walpole. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nicholas, Markovitch, the Markovitch flat **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Who they are Vera's anxious, untidy husband, he loves her with a dog's desperate devotion and is tormented by the suspicion that she does not, and cannot, love him back. ## Relationships ### [Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov) _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) _romantic_ Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _rivalry_ Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism. ### [Nina Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nina_michailovna) _friendship_ Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle. ### [Jerry Lawrence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/jerry_lawrence) _rivalry_ Jerry and Nicholas are direct rivals for Vera's love, leading to tension and jealousy. ### [Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov) _friendship_ Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other. ### [Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov) _friendship_ Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _rivalry_ Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _rivalry_ Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _romantic_ Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings. ### [Nina Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nina_michailovna) _friendship_ Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _romantic_ Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings. ## In the story ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) The host, a thin, anxious man with thinning hair and a reddening nose, who invites the narrator to his home. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Vera mentions that her husband has started drinking again and is lying about it, worrying her deeply. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Silent and nervous, watching his wife and Semyonov during the party. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xv) Husband of Vera; Bohun is advised to befriend him. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi) Vera's husband, struggling with his failed inventions and influenced by Uncle Alexei. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned by Nina in her list of those who would fight if the country belonged to many. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xviii) Vera's husband; mentioned as part of the romantic complication. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xx) Mentioned as Vera's husband who suspects her relationship with Lawrence. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xxii) Host; tries to be agreeable but is drawn into a political argument; shows jealousy and desperation toward Vera. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/i) Found hiding in the narrator's room, having searched for a letter from his wife. He confronts Bohun about Lawrence and eventually calms down. ### [Nina's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Nina's brother-in-law; his inventions are criticized by Semyonov as selfish and wasteful. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) Silent and glowering at dinner; retreats to his workshop after eating. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Durward obsessively thinks about Markovitch, seeing him as the dark horse and center of the story; appears in a dream as a hunted figure. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi) Central narrator of the chapter; recounts his experiences on Revolution day, his love for Vera, and his disillusionment. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Present during the conversation; visibly agitated and trembling. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiv) Returns home euphoric, works on inventions, then spies Vera and Lawrence kissing, leading to his emotional collapse. ### [Part III: Markovitch and Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/part-iii-markovitch-and-semyonov) Markovitch recounts his story of the revolution day, revealing his idealism and subsequent disillusionment. ### [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 given up his inventions and is moody and secretive since the Revolution. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as having changed drastically after the Revolution; gave up his inventions and allowed Semyonov to move in. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Vera's long-time companion; she plans to tell him about Lawrence but delays; he is influenced by Semyonov. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Drinks heavily, is taunted by Semyonov about the Revolution, and confesses he saw Vera's love for another man. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned in Bohun's description of the strange mood at the flat; seen standing behind Semyonov with a strange look. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/x) Lawrence describes Nicholas as weak, knowing about the kiss, and going off his dot, which is a key reason for Lawrence's decision to leave. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as one of the people Semyonov has harmed, and as a possible target of Semyonov's pursuit. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Engages in a bitter argument with Semyonov, accusing him of stealing his inventions and Vera's love; later seen in a trance-like state, holding a revolver and turning a portrait to the wall. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Writes a desperate letter to Durward expressing his despair over Vera's love for Lawrence and Semyonov's manipulation. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiv) Mentioned as asleep in the armchair at the Markovitch flat; Vera later expresses her contempt for him. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi) The man the narrator feels responsible for; he follows Semyonov to Katerinhof, shoots him, then turns the revolver on himself, dying in the narrator's arms. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters