# Mr. Bracebridge — The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. character guide

> Mr. Bracebridge in The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. by Washington Irving.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Master Simon, Mr. Simon Bracebridge, Mr. Simon, Simon

**First appearance:** 0024-christmas-eve

## Snapshot

A silver-haired squire who resurrects old English Christmas customs with boyish zeal, and whose pedantic cousin Simon presides over the hall's peacocks and choristers.

## Who they are

Mr. Bracebridge is the benevolent master of Bracebridge Hall, a man whose open, florid countenance betrays a singular mixture of whim and benevolence. He laments modern breakfasts of tea and toast as causes of effeminacy, insisting instead on cold meats, wine, and ale, and he keeps peacocks partly because they belonged to chivalry. His passion for reviving ancient customs—the Yule clog, the mistletoe—drives the Christmas festivities that form the heart of the sketch.

## Relationships

### [Geoffrey Crayon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/characters/geoffrey_crayon)

_friendship_

Geoffrey is a guest at Bracebridge Hall and observes Mr. Bracebridge as a genial, old-fashioned English gentleman.

### [Geoffrey Crayon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/characters/geoffrey_crayon)

_friendship_

Geoffrey is a guest at Bracebridge Hall and observes Mr. Bracebridge as a genial, old-fashioned English gentleman.

## In the story

### [The Country Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/chapters/the-country-church)

The friend at whose seat the narrator is staying, residing in the vicinity of the church.

### [Christmas Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/chapters/christmas-eve)

The squire, a devotee of old English hospitality and customs, who welcomes the narrator and his son.

### [Christmas Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/chapters/christmas-day)

The squire who laments the decay of old Christmas games, leads family prayers, and mingles with the rustics after the sword dance.

### [The Christmas Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/chapters/the-christmas-dinner)

The squire who hosts the Christmas banquet and upholds old traditions, including the boar's head ceremony.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/characters/mr_bracebridge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sketchbook_of_geoffrey_crayon_gent_se/characters