# Father Rothschild S.J. — Vile Bodies character guide

> Father Rothschild S.J. in Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Rothschild, Suddenly Father Rothschild

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

A Jesuit with a borrowed suitcase, six new books in six languages, and a memory for everything knowable about anyone worth knowing.

## Who they are

Father Rothschild boards the Channel crossing among the Bright Young Things, quietly cataloguing each face and its polite misgiving. His imitation-crocodile case conceals a false beard, a school atlas, and underwear that belongs to a hotel valet — a hint that his errands run deeper than the confessional. Worldly, watchful, and faintly gargoylish, he drifts through the novel's parties as the one observer who understands what the revels are actually for.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/i)

A Jesuit passenger who recognizes Adam, warns him about Mrs. Ape, and mentions Lady Metroland's party.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the clever child Doge once dandled, and later referenced in a telephone conversation with Mr. Outrage.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/vi)

Conspires with Mr. Outrage and Lord Metroland in the study, suspicious of a bearded man bowing to empty places.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/viii)

Engages in a conversation with Mr. Outrage and Lord Metroland about the younger generation and the coming war.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters/father_rothschild
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vile_bodies_se/characters