Character guide

Frederick Barnet

major

Also known as Barnet, VI Barnet, V Frederick Barnet, Mylius

A witness-narrator whose book chronicles a world 'coming about like a ship that sails into the wind,' he registers how ordinary lives buckle under accelerating change.

Marcus Karenin

major

Also known as Karenin, old Karenin, Marcus, II Karenin, X Karenin

An aging visionary who, from a Himalayan surgical station, weighs the world's new freedom against its coming 'beautiful ecstasy of waste.'

Firmin

supporting

Also known as Firmin—they

A cautious adviser trailing a king up a hill with the beer, clinging to imperial autonomy while his sovereign prepares to fling royalty on the table.

Young Holsten

major

Also known as Holsten, Young Holsten, III Holsten, no Holsten

A brilliant physicist whose discovery of atomic energy cracks open human history, leaving a world 'made nascent' and ready for new associations.

Marshal Dubois

supporting

Also known as Dubois, old Dubois

A French military commander caught in the debacle of the Last Wars, when power after power strikes first in a delirium of atomic panic.

The Woman at the Window

minor

Also known as herself, her.

A mysterious female figure observed by Barnet, symbolizing lost love.

Fowler

supporting

An American journalist whose commentary frames how the atomic catastrophe shook men out of old habits of thought and lightly held beliefs.

Doctor Pestovitch

supporting

Also known as Pestovitch, presently Pestovitch

Pestovitch serves as the Balkan king's trusted counselor, the man who reads the cipher dispatches and whispers the hard truths a monarch cannot afford to hear. Where Ferdinand Charles thrashes between denial and theatrics, Pestovitch watches faces, measures silences, and steps in when his master protests too much. His wary, clinical eye makes him the story's early barometer of how badly the old world is misreading the new weapon in its midst.

King Egbert

minor

Also known as Gilbert, Egbert

A European monarch involved in pre-war diplomacy.

Leblanc

minor

Also known as a Leblanc, the indefatigable Leblanc, the admirable Leblanc, Madame Leblanc

A French scientist and colleague of Holsten.

Rachel Borken

minor

Also known as Rachel

A woman connected to Barnet, appearing in his memories.

Gardener

minor

Also known as young Gardener

A young man associated with the early atomic experiments.

Kahn

minor

Also known as Kahn.⁠

An industrialist and financier in the pre-war era.

Bismarck

minor

Also known as Old Bismarck

The historical German chancellor, referenced as a political force.

King Ferdinand Charles

minor

Also known as Ferdinand Charles, King Ferdinand, Charles

A European king during the war period.

Peter

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or associate.

Edith Haydon

minor

Also known as Edith

A woman in Barnet's social circle.

Lawson

minor

An acquaintance of Barnet's.

General Viard

minor

Also known as Viard

A French general in the last war.

Sir Philip Dass

minor

Also known as Dass, the discredited Dass

A disgraced British official.

Edwards

minor

A minor character in the narrative.

The Judge

minor

Also known as the judge

A presiding judge in a post-war trial.

The American

minor

An unnamed American character in the narrative.

Kurt

minor

A German character during the war.

Napoleon

minor

Historical figure referenced as a comparison.

Old Broomie

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant.

Abel

minor

A biblical figure referenced in the text.

Ciana

minor

A minor female character.

Helen of Holloway

minor

Also known as Helen

A character mentioned in passing.

Hyslop

minor

A minor character in the story.

Tchen

minor

An Asian character mentioned briefly.