# Oswald Bastable — The Story of the Treasure Seekers character guide > Oswald Bastable in The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sir Oswald Bastable, Lord Tottenham, Oswald Barron **First appearance:** 0001-the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers ## Snapshot The eldest Bastable son, who dreams of restoring his family's fallen fortunes and leads his siblings on treasure hunts with theatrical self-importance. ## Who they are Oswald is the boy who first thinks of seeking treasure, declaring it the proper way to restore the fallen fortunes of the House of Bastable, and he never lets anyone forget whose idea it was. He won the Latin prize at his preparatory school and narrates with a hilariously transparent habit of praising himself while pretending to be modest. His blend of genuine courage and comic vanity drives the early schemes, making him both the engine of the adventures and the source of much of their humor. ## Relationships ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Oswald are siblings who frequently interact, with Alice often acting as a sensible counterpart to Oswald's adventurous schemes. ### [Dicky Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dicky_bastable) _family_ Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking adventures. ### [Dora Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dora_bastable) _family_ Dora is the eldest sister and often acts as a maternal figure to Oswald and the other children. ### [Albert Morrison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/albert_morrison) _friendship_ Albert Morrison and Oswald are friends and frequent co-conspirators in the children's adventures. ### [H. O. Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/h_o_bastable) _family_ H. O. and Oswald are brothers, with Oswald often taking a protective or teasing role toward the youngest sibling. ### [Pincher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/pincher) _friendship_ Oswald has a close bond with Pincher, the family dog, who is a loyal companion in their adventures. ### [The Robber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/the_robber) _rivalry_ Oswald and the Robber are adversaries, as Oswald helps to catch the man who robbed his father. ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Oswald are siblings who frequently interact, with Alice often acting as a sensible counterpart to Oswald's adventurous schemes. ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Oswald are siblings who frequently interact, with Alice often acting as a sensible counterpart to Oswald's adventurous schemes. ### [Dora Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dora_bastable) _family_ Dora is the eldest sister and often acts as a maternal figure to Oswald and the other children. ### [H. O. Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/h_o_bastable) _family_ H. O. and Oswald are brothers, with Oswald often taking a protective or teasing role toward the youngest sibling. ### [Dicky Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dicky_bastable) _family_ Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking adventures. ## In the story ### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/dedication) The dedicatee of the book, referenced by his full name Oswald Barron. ### [The Story of the Treasure Seekers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers) Narrator and leader of the treasure-seeking adventures. ### [The Council of Ways and Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/i-the-council-of-ways-and-means) Narrator and initiator of the treasure-seeking idea; thinks of interesting things and leads the council. ### [II: Digging for Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/ii-digging-for-treasure) Narrates the chapter, leads the treasure digging, and insists on fairness. ### [Being Detectives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iii-being-detectives) Narrates the chapter; insists he is the eldest and takes the lead in spying. ### [Good Hunting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iv-good-hunting) Narrates the chapter; accompanies Noël to London to submit poetry; negotiates the gift of shillings from the lady poet. ### [The Poet and the Editor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/v-the-poet-and-the-editor) Narrates the chapter; accompanies Noël to the Editor; negotiates the sale and provides information about Lord Tottenham. ### [The Poet and the Editor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/v-the-poet-and-the-editor) Mentioned as a celebrity known to the children; Oswald describes his habits on the Heath. ### [VI: Noël’s Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vi-no-l-s-princess) Narrates the chapter; leads the bear hunt and remains polite to the governess. ### [VII: Being Bandits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vii-being-bandits) Narrator and Lieutenant of the bandits; later becomes Captain; writes the ransom note and oversees the imprisonment. ### [Being Editors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/viii-being-editors) Co-editor of the Lewisham Recorder; writes editorial notes and contributes a peppermint arithmetic tip. ### [The G.B.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/ix-the-g-b) Oswald reflects on the family's fallen fortunes and insists on his plan to seek treasure, showing his determination and sense of responsibility as the eldest. ### [X: Lord Tottenham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/x-lord-tottenham) Leads the rescue scheme, tries solo methods first, and feels deep shame when the plan is exposed. ### [Castilian Amoroso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xi-castilian-amoroso) Finds the corkscrew, observes the encounter with the butcher, and later speaks to the vicar about the wine. ### [XII: The Nobleness of Oswald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xii-the-nobleness-of-oswald) Narrates the chapter; demonstrates honesty by returning a lady's extra pennies and shows concern for Alice and Noël. ### [The Robber and the Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiii-the-robber-and-the-burglar) Leads the group down to investigate the noise; suggests it might be a cat; later accompanies the robber to confront the burglar. ### [XIV: The Divining-Rod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiv-the-divining-rod) Narrates the chapter; acts as peacemaker during the quarrel and participates in the divining-rod game as a 'doctor' and later as a digger. ### [XV: “Lo, the Poor Indian!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xv-lo-the-poor-indian) Narrator and leader; invites the poor Indian to dinner and treats him with respect. ### [The End of the Treasure-Seeking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xvi-the-end-of-the-treasure-seeking) Narrates the chapter; tries to cheer up H.O. and reflects on the day's events. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/oswald_bastable - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters