# Albert West — The Story of My Experiments with Truth character guide

> Albert West in The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gilbert, Mr. Albert West, Mr. West, West

**First appearance:** 0057-part-iii-i-rumblings-of-the-storm

## Snapshot

An English coworker whose steady management of Phoenix Settlement lets Gandhi leave home knowing the ashram will hold.

## Who they are

West belongs to the small circle of Europeans who cast their lot with Gandhi's South African experiments, tending the daily life of Phoenix while its founder shuttles between Johannesburg and the coast. His presence embodies the strange coalition Gandhi built — Englishmen, Jews, Indians, and children — held together less by doctrine than by willingness to share hardship. Without such hands, the ashram's ideals would have remained paper.

## In the story

### [The Black Plague—II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xvi-the-black-plague-ii)

Volunteers to nurse plague patients but is instead sent to manage the Indian Opinion press in Durban.

### [The Magic Spell of a Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xviii-the-magic-spell-of-a-book)

Manager of Indian Opinion; reports financial difficulties but remains committed.

### [The Phoenix Settlement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xix-the-phoenix-settlement)

Approves Gandhi's proposal to move Indian Opinion to a farm and helps inspect and set up the Phoenix estate.

### [The First Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xx-the-first-night)

Despairs when the engine fails but is comforted by Gandhi; helps organize the hand-wheel work and sings a hymn.

### [Whom God Protects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xxii-whom-god-protects)

Gandhi advises him to marry; he returns from Louth with Mrs. West and her mother.

### [Heart Searchings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xxv-heart-searchings)

Discussed the vow of brahmacharya with Gandhi and accepted its necessity.

### [Kasturbai’s Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xxviii-kasturbai-s-courage)

Receives Gandhi's message at Phoenix to arrange a hammock and supplies for Kasturbai's arrival.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/characters/albert_west
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/characters