# Edgar Fitzpiers — The Woodlanders character guide > Edgar Fitzpiers in The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Fitzpiers, Mr. Fitzpiers, Dr. Fitzpiers, Edgar **First appearance:** 0009-x ## Snapshot A restless young doctor of fashionable tastes and shallow feeling, drawn to Hintock less by its patients than by the chance of a pretty face and a fine house. ## Who they are Fitzpiers arrives in Little Hintock with a London education, a small practice he barely bothers to build, and a habit of night study that gives way to idleness. He courts Grace with flattering attention, then finds his eye wandering toward the wealthy widow Felice Charmond, whose rank and mystery excite him more than domestic contentment can. His vanity and inconstancy turn a promising marriage into the engine of the novel's central sorrow. ## In the story ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/vi) Introduced through Grammer Oliver's account as a melancholy, eccentric young doctor who has settled in Little Hintock and made a bizarre bargain for her corpse. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as the newly arrived surgeon who studies theology and metaphysics; his light is seen late at night. ### [The Party at Winterborne's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/x) Mentioned as having a light on late at night; the Melburys speculate about his habits and future in Hintock. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xiv) Attends John South as a doctor; orders the tree cut down and later admits his remedy may have caused South's death. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xvi) Observes passersby from his window, becomes fascinated with Grace Melbury, and discusses his philosophical views on love with Giles Winterborne. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xvii) Depicted as a desultory intellectual with a keen interest in science and philosophy; his loneliness in Hintock leads him to romanticize Grace. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xviii) First extended encounter with Grace; he is captivated by her, cancels the bargain without payment, and reveals his transcendentalist musings and scientific curiosity. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xix) Fitzpiers joins the bark-rippers' picnic and helps Grace when her horse becomes restless. He reflects on his idealistic view of Grace as a 'phenomenal girl' and decides to maintain a purely spiritual relationship with her, while planning a practical marriage elsewhere. He continues to encounter her in the woods as spring arrives. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xx) Observes Grace during the ritual, intercepts her on Mrs. Melbury's advice, and later chases Suke Damson by mistake. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxii) Declares his admiration for Grace to Melbury and asks permission to court her; he is driven by his infatuation after their Midsummer Eve encounter and sends a note to Grace before leaving for medical meetings. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxiii) Fitzpiers returns to Hintock, formalizes his engagement to Grace, and proposes a registry office wedding to avoid publicity. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxiv) Fitzpiers explains away Grace's suspicions with a story about extracting a tooth, and secures her agreement to marry, also gaining a financial incentive from Melbury. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxv) Feels trapped by his marriage, resents the communal life, hears Mrs. Charmond's critical remark, and considers leaving Hintock for Budmouth. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxvi) Called to treat Mrs. Charmond; recognizes her as the woman he met in Heidelberg and becomes romantically fascinated with her again. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxvii) Fitzpiers tells Grace he has refused the practice, then visits Mrs. Charmond, where they discuss their relationship and she insists he stop coming. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxviii) Secretly visits Mrs. Charmond at Middleton Abbey, using a patient as a cover; grows distant from Grace. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxix) Fitzpiers returns home late, found asleep on his horse. He calls out 'Felice' in his sleep, revealing his ongoing affair with Mrs. Charmond. ### [Chapter 31](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxx) Shows open discontent with his marriage, laments his lost freedom, and engages in a clandestine flirtation with Mrs. Charmond. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxi) Implied to be having an affair with Mrs. Charmond; Melbury blames him for Grace's unhappiness. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxii) Absent in London; his affair with Mrs. Charmond is the subject of Melbury's confrontation. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxiii) Mentioned as the object of both Grace's and Mrs. Charmond's affections; his affair is the central conflict. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxiv) Returns from London, learns of Grace's absence and Mrs. Charmond's planned departure, then rides to the Manor House. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxv) Drunk and confessional, he reveals his regret over marrying Grace and his longing for Felice Charmond, leading to Melbury's violent reaction. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxvi) Appears at Felice's window, pale and bloodied after being attacked by Melbury; he crawls to her for refuge and is hidden in the lumber-room. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxvii) His hat is found in the wood, causing Grace further distress; he secretly leaves Hintock with Mrs. Charmond's help and is later seen with her in Baden. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxviii) Referenced as Grace's husband and the source of her acquired tastes; his debts and luxurious habits contrast with Giles's honesty. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxxix) Fitzpiers is mentioned as Grace's still-legal husband, whose beck and call she remains subject to. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xl) Writes to Grace asking her to join him abroad; later decides to return to Hintock, causing Grace to flee. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xli) Mentioned as the husband Grace is fleeing from; his affair with Mrs. Charmond is the cause of her flight. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xlii) Returns to Hintock in a contrite mood; is summoned by Grace (disguised) to attend a patient, unaware it is Giles. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xliii) Arrives to find Grace nursing Giles, pronounces him dying, reveals Felice Charmond's death, and is banished by Grace. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xliv) Returns to Little Hintock in anguish, learns of Giles's sacrifice from Marty, and buys the cider-press for her. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xlv) Sends a Valentine's letter to Grace, meets her on Rub-Down Hill, encounters Suke Damson and Tim Tangs on their wedding day, and pleads for reconciliation while acknowledging his past errors. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xlvi) Pursues Grace persistently, promises to abandon his philosophical studies, and secretly visits Hintock to see her. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xlvii) Discovers the mantrap and believes Grace is injured, leading to a passionate reconciliation. He reveals his new practice in the Midlands and asks Grace to join him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/edgar_fitzpiers - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters