# Nina Michailovna — The Secret City character guide > Nina Michailovna in The Secret City by Hugh Walpole. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nina, Poor little Nina, Poor Nina, Dear Nina **First appearance:** 0003-part-i-vera-and-nina ## Who they are Vera's younger sister, all laughter, sweets, and clashing ribbons, she flirts and quarrels with Boris Grogoff while war and Russia trouble her not at all. ## Relationships ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _family_ Sisters with a deep, complex bond, often protective and confiding in each other. ### [Jerry Lawrence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/jerry_lawrence) _friendship_ Jerry and Nina share a warm, platonic friendship, often acting as confidants. ### [Henry Bohun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/henry_bohun) _social_ Henry and Nina are acquaintances moving in the same social circles, with polite but distant interactions. ### [Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov) _friendship_ Alexei and Nina are close friends, sharing intellectual interests and mutual respect. ### [Nicholas Markovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch) _friendship_ Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle. ### [Ivan Andreievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/ivan_andreievitch) _family_ Ivan is a relative or close family friend of Nina, offering paternal advice and protection. ### [Durdles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/durdles) _professional_ Durdles is a servant or employee in Nina's household, with a formal but loyal relationship. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _family_ Sisters with a deep, complex bond, often protective and confiding in each other. ### [Vera Michailovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/vera_michailovna) _family_ Sisters with a deep, complex bond, often protective and confiding in each other. ### [Durdles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/durdles) _professional_ Durdles is a servant or employee in Nina's household, with a formal but loyal relationship. ### [Nicholas Markovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nicholas_markovitch) _friendship_ Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle. ### [Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/alexei_petrovitch_semyonov) _friendship_ Alexei and Nina are close friends, sharing intellectual interests and mutual respect. ## In the story ### [Part I: Vera and Nina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/part-i-vera-and-nina) Portrayed as young and impulsive, her actions may drive pivotal plot developments. ### [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) Vera's younger sister, a pretty, childish girl with brown hair and a love for bright, clashing clothes and sweets. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) In a furious rage over being stood up by Michael Alexandrovitch; her outburst disrupts the evening. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/viii) Vera discusses Nina's changed behavior, her constant outings, and her growing distance from Vera. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Nina laughs at Bohun and imitates him, causing him to feel hurt and isolated. Her chaffing is good-natured but insensitive. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Immensely happy as hostess, excited and joyous, like a young kitten or puppy in a white frock. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Briefly mentioned as Semyonov greets her at the party. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvi) Vera's younger sister, source of Vera's anxiety; arrives at the end of the chapter. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xvii) Visits Durward with flowers and fruit, chattering about cinemas and the upcoming Masquerade; expresses deep disillusionment with the war and Russia. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xix) Turns eighteen; sends a playful note to Durward insisting he attend her birthday party. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xxi) Dressed in white silk with blue bows; puts her hand on Lawrence's knee, confesses her jealousy of Vera, and threatens to run away with Boris Grogoff. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xxii) Birthday girl; initially cheerful, then controls the situation after the glass-throwing incident by kissing Grogoff. ### [Part II: Lawrence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/part-ii-lawrence) Vera's younger sister; her actions and fate are a source of tension. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned in connection with Lawrence's realization of Vera's love after Nina's party. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned in Durward's thoughts as someone he wanted to be friends with, now seeming remote. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iv) Referenced by Semyonov as part of his family that Durward should leave alone. ### [Nina's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) The central figure of the chapter; her youth, love for Lawrence, and fatalistic confidence are explored in depth. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vii) Subdued after an afternoon walk with Lawrence; reveals her love for Lawrence to the narrator; expresses fear and superstition about the quiet city. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as having gone to the Astoria with Vera; Bohun is worried for her safety. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xi) Markovitch fears Grogoff will carry her off. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xii) Returns frightened after encountering a dead man and machine-gun fire; seeks comfort from Vera. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiv) Passes through the flat and later appears briefly in the doorway, her white frightened face glimpsed by Markovitch. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ii) Seen approaching Durward at the end of the chapter on the Quay. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iii) Found crying by the river; reveals Semyonov has moved in and Nicholas is changed. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/iv) Nina has left her family to live with Grogoff; she is defiant but appears childish and pale. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/v) Has run away with Grogoff; sends a cryptic message to Vera about something she saw on the Thursday of Revolution week. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/vi) Runs away with Boris Grogoff, causing Vera immense distress and guilt. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/ix) Briefly appears at the party; asks about Vera but refuses to return home; says she is 'all right'. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned by Markovitch as being influenced by Semyonov to laugh at him. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/chapters/xv) The damsel in distress; Bohun rescues her from Grogoff's flat; she appears tired, ill, and disheveled. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters/nina_michailovna - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_city_se/characters