Character guide

Modestine

major

Also known as the reluctant Modestine

A small, mouse-coloured donkey with the patience of a saint and the will of a mule, she carries the narrator and his packs across the Cévennes.

Alick

supporting

Also known as the unabashed Alick

A Scottish servant whose name the narrator calls out on the road, he belongs to the familiar world of home that the traveller has left behind.

Rufe Hanson

supporting

Also known as Rufe, Rufe the hunter, Hanson, Rufus

A hunter and neighbour in the half-abandoned mining settlement of Silverado, he is more often absent than found, a rumour of a man.

Irvine Lovelands

supporting

Also known as Irvine, Lovelands

A fellow traveller whose path briefly crosses the narrator's, he is one of the many strangers who flash through the Toll House and vanish.

Du Chayla

supporting

Also known as Lamoignon de Bâvile—François de Langlade du Chayla

The archpriest of the Cévennes whose persecution of Protestant peasants helped ignite the Camisard rebellion, he haunts the region's history.

The Arethusa

minor

Also known as the undaunted Arethusa

A personified ship or boat featured in a narrative episode.

Mackay

minor

A Scottish figure, possibly a historical or literary reference with narrative presence.

The Camisards

supporting

Also known as Camisards

Protestant rebels of the Cévennes who rose against royal persecution, their fierce faith and mountain warfare echo through the valleys the narrator walks.

The Priest

minor

Also known as the priest, The priest, the Priest

A Catholic clergyman encountered during the travels.

The Cigarette

minor

Also known as Cigarette, Pedlars The Cigarette

A peddler or character met on the canal journey.

Mr. Jones

minor

Also known as Jones, Meantime Jones

An acquaintance or fellow traveler in the narrative.

Mr. Kelmar

supporting

Also known as Kelmar, Mrs. Kelmar, Mr. Kelmar, Introduce Mr. Kelmar

Kelmar is the rural merchant whose credit binds half the settlers within miles of Calistoga into permanent, unpayable obligation — a family friend who dines at their tables and dictates their business. His sudden warmth about Silverado, after shaking his head at Pine Flat, hints at motives beneath the hospitality. His wagon carries the narrator up the mountain, making him the quiet engine of the whole Silverado venture.

Mrs. Hanson

minor

Also known as Hanson

Wife of Rufe Hanson, part of the hunter's family.

Gaston Lafenestre

minor

Also known as Gaston

A French acquaintance met during the travels.

Smethurst

minor

Also known as Mr. Smethurst

A character encountered in the later essays, possibly an engineer.

Mr. Commissary

minor

Also known as The Commissary, the Commissary, Poor bubuckled Commissary

A French official encountered during the canal journey.

Mr. Ronalds

minor

Also known as Ronalds

An acquaintance encountered during the travels.

Burns

minor

Likely Robert Burns, referenced as a literary figure in the Scottish essays.

Father Michael

minor

Also known as The Monks Father Michael, Father

A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.

Mr. McEckron

minor

Also known as McEckron

A Scottish character mentioned in the Edinburgh or travel sections.

Clarisse

minor

A female character mentioned in the French travel sections.

Tom Bowling

minor

Also known as Tom, Tommy

A sailor or nautical character referenced in the essays.

Barney

minor

A character mentioned in the travel narratives.

Mr. Dennis Kearney

minor

Also known as Kearney

A historical figure, possibly a politician or agitator in California.

Foss

minor

Also known as the daring Foss, the famous Foss, Mr. Foss, the great Foss

A notable character, possibly a performer or eccentric.

The Officer

minor

Also known as the officer, The officer

A military or police officer encountered during travels.

Indians

minor

Also known as the Indians, other Indians

Native Americans encountered during the American travel sections.

The Archpriest

minor

Also known as the archpriest

A Catholic official in the Cévennes, likely Du Chayla.

The Hansons

minor

Also known as Happy Hansons

The Hanson family, neighbors in the Silverado community.

Silverado

supporting

Also known as The Silverado

Silverado is an abandoned camp of shafts, tunnels, and a battered mill, its population reduced to Rufe Hanson and a family of squatters. Its silence holds two rival stories — one of six hundred thousand dollars pulled from the seam, one of an elaborate swindle staged with smuggled silver in cigar boxes. As the narrator's chosen home, it becomes the stage for his experiment in living deliberately among the wreck of other men's hopes.

Salomon Couderc

minor

Also known as Salomon

A French peasant or farmer encountered in the Cévennes.

Mary

minor

Also known as Queen Mary, Mariette

A female figure, possibly historical or a local woman.

Castanet

minor

A Camisard leader mentioned in the historical narrative.

Mr. Schram

minor

Also known as jolly Mr. Schram

A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.

Madame Gilliard

minor

Also known as Madame

A French woman encountered during the journey.

The Doctor

minor

Also known as the Doctor, the doctor

A medical professional encountered during travels.

Old Edinburgh

minor

Also known as Edinburgh

The personified city of Edinburgh in the descriptive essays.

Captain Poul

minor

Also known as Poul

A ship captain or nautical figure.

Master Sam

minor

Also known as Sam

A young boy or servant mentioned in the narratives.

Major Weir

minor

Also known as Major

A historical Scottish figure, a warlock or covenanter.

Father Apollinaris

minor

Also known as Matthew Arnold Father Apollinaris, simple Father Apollinaris

A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.

Cavalier

minor

A Camisard leader in the Cévennes uprising.

Fanny

minor

A female companion, possibly the narrator's wife.

Séguier

minor

Also known as Spirit, Spirit Séguier, the Spirit

A Camisard prophet or leader in the Cévennes.

The Chinese

minor

Also known as the despised Chinese, The Chinese

Chinese immigrants encountered in California.

The Americans

minor

Also known as Americans

American people encountered during the transcontinental journey.

Joe Strong

minor

Also known as Strong

A resident of the Silverado mining community.

Father Adam

minor

Also known as Adam with divine fitness

A monk or religious figure at the monastery.

Mr. Corwin

minor

Also known as Corwin, Corwin the bold

An acquaintance in the California sections.

Robert Fergusson

minor

Also known as Fergusson

A Scottish poet referenced in the Edinburgh essays.

George Sand

minor

The French writer, referenced as a literary figure.

Père Apollinaire

minor

A French priest encountered during the travels.

Vasquez

minor

A character, possibly a bandit or historical figure in California.

M. Hector

minor

A French gentleman encountered during the journey.

The English

minor

Also known as The English

English people encountered during the travels.

O'Reilly

minor

Also known as the young O'Reilly

A young Irishman encountered during the travels.

Irish Tommy

minor

Also known as Thomas, Tom, poor Tom, the Tom

An Irish character met during the journey.

The Mexicans

minor

Also known as Mexicans, The Mexicans

Mexican people encountered in California.

The Judge

minor

Also known as The Judge, the judge

A legal official encountered during the travels.

Samson

minor

Also known as Samuel, Kong Sam Kee, The Kong Sam Kee, Sam

A Chinese merchant or character in California.

M. de Vauversin

minor

Also known as de Vauversin

A French aristocrat encountered during the travels.

John Knox

minor

Also known as Knox, John

The Scottish reformer, referenced in the Edinburgh essays.

Abramina

minor

A female character mentioned in the travel narratives.

Mr. Jennings

minor

Also known as happy Mr. Jennings

A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.

Blackwood

minor

A person mentioned in the Scottish sections, possibly a historical figure.

Hackston of Rathillet

minor

Also known as Hackston

A historical Scottish Covenanter mentioned in the Edinburgh essays.

Bob Bain

minor

Also known as Bain, Bob

A Scottish character mentioned in the Edinburgh essays.

Miss Lizzie

minor

Also known as Lizzie

A female character, possibly a servant or acquaintance.

Mr. Thomson

minor

A Scottish acquaintance mentioned in the essays.

Jerry

minor

A character mentioned in the travel narratives.

The Bazins

minor

A family encountered during the French travels.

Jacques

minor

A French character encountered during the travels.

Bazin

minor

Also known as Madame Bazin

A French family encountered during the journey.

The Devonian

minor

Also known as The Devonian

A person from Devon encountered during travels.

Arthur

minor

A character mentioned in the travel narratives.

The Officers

minor

Also known as the officers

Military or police officers encountered during travels.

Lord Roland

minor

Also known as Roland, Count and Lord Roland

A historical or legendary figure referenced in the essays.

Caliban

minor

Also known as Caliban Malvolio

A literary reference, possibly used as a character comparison.

Satan

minor

The devil, referenced as a figure in moral or religious contexts.

Cotton Mather

minor

A Puritan minister, referenced in historical context.