# Adam Fenwick-Symes — Vile Bodies character guide > Adam Fenwick-Symes in Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Adam, Adam Symes, Symes, V Adam **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot An aspiring writer with one manuscript and no luck, Adam drifts through London's party circuit chasing Nina, a paycheck, and a way to be married before Christmas. ## Who they are Adam moves through Bright Young People society as an outsider with an insider's invitation — broke, in love, and perpetually one deal away from respectability. His engagement to Nina keeps dissolving and re-forming around money he never quite receives, most notably from a drunk Major who vanishes with the cash. He matters because his precarious finances and persistent romantic hope give the novel its anxious, yearning center. ## Relationships ### [Nina Blount](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/nina_blount) _romantic_ Adam and Nina are engaged in a chaotic, on-again-off-again romance marked by misunderstandings, financial woes, and mutual affection despite constant obstacles. ### [Ginger Littlejohn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/ginger_littlejohn) _friendship_ Ginger is Adam's loyal but hapless friend and rival for Nina's affection, often caught in awkward situations due to his simple-mindedness. ### [Lottie Crump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/lottie_crump) _professional_ Lottie Crump is the eccentric hotelier who hosts Adam and provides him with a chaotic, bohemian living space. ### [Colonel Blount](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/colonel_blount) _social_ Colonel Blount is Nina's eccentric, alcoholic father who tolerates Adam but remains aloof and preoccupied with his own absurd schemes. ### [Simon Balcairn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/simon_balcairn) _rivalry_ Simon Balcairn is a gossip columnist and rival journalist who competes with Adam for scoops and social access, often with malicious intent. ### [Margot Metroland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/margot_metroland) _professional_ Margot Metroland is a wealthy, influential society hostess who employs Adam as a gossip columnist and occasionally manipulates him for her own ends. ### [Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/darling) _friendship_ Adam and Darling are fellow Bright Young People who share a camaraderie of drunken parties and social escapades, though Darling is more frivolous. ### [Mrs. Florin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/mrs_florin) _social_ Adam interacts with Mrs. Florin as a familiar presence at the Blount household, where she is a source of practical information and mild gossip. ### [Archie Schwert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/archie_schwert) _friendship_ Archie Schwert is a fellow Bright Young Person and friend of Adam, known for his drunken antics and participation in the group's wild parties. ### [Nina Blount](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/nina_blount) _romantic_ Adam and Nina are engaged in a chaotic, on-again-off-again romance marked by misunderstandings, financial woes, and mutual affection despite constant obstacles. ### [Ginger Littlejohn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/ginger_littlejohn) _friendship_ Ginger is Adam's loyal but hapless friend and rival for Nina's affection, often caught in awkward situations due to his simple-mindedness. ### [Nina Blount](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/nina_blount) _romantic_ Adam and Nina are engaged in a chaotic, on-again-off-again romance marked by misunderstandings, financial woes, and mutual affection despite constant obstacles. ## In the story ### [Vile Bodies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/vile-bodies) Protagonist who arrives in England, has his memoirs seized by customs, and later becomes Mr. Chatterbox. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/i) Boards the ship at the last moment, returning from Paris after writing a book and getting engaged. Father Rothschild speaks to him. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/ii) Telephones Nina to cancel their engagement due to his book being burned; visits publisher Sam Benfleet to discuss the contract; travels with Miss Runcible and the Younger Set. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/iii) Arrives at Shepheard's Hotel, is warmly greeted by Lottie Crump, and joins the eclectic company in the parlour. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/iv) Suggests going to Lottie Crump's; falls asleep at Miss Brown's. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/v) Visits Colonel Blount to ask for financial help, receives a cheque, later learns it is a joke; spends the night with Nina. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/vi) Sits next to Nina at the party, feeling bored. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/vii) Becomes Mr. Chatterbox, gossip columnist for the Daily Excess; invents stories and trends; attends the November Handicap with Nina. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/viii) Attends the airship party with Nina and Ginger; discusses marriage with Nina, reflecting on the futility of their social life. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/ix) Rings Nina, has lunch, travels to Aylesbury, visits Colonel Blount to discuss marriage. ### [The Motor Race Trip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/x) Drives the car after Archie becomes sleepy, loses the way, and later searches for the drunk Major to collect his £35,000. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/xi) Rings Nina, learns the Major is bogus and she has no money, then hears she is engaged to Ginger. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/xii) Sells his share in Nina to Ginger for money to pay his bill, then tries to avoid her but meets her again at the nursing home. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/xiii) Adam is now married to Nina and spends Christmas with the Blounts; he is offered a business partnership in the John Wesley film by Colonel Blount. ### [Happy Ending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/happy-ending) Sits on a tree stump reading a letter from Nina, then meets the General and later falls asleep in the car. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/adam_fenwick_symes - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters