# Sir Julian Freke — Whose Body? character guide

> Sir Julian Freke in Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sir Julian, Julian Freke, Freke

**First appearance:** 0003-ii

## Snapshot

A celebrated surgeon and neurologist with beautiful hands and brooding blue eyes, whose consulting room feels to Lord Peter like a trap closing.

## Who they are

Sir Julian Freke is the eminent physician whose reputation for scientific brilliance is matched by an unsettling, fanatical intensity; his eyes search one through rather than resting kindly on a patient. When Wimsey consults him about a nervous attack, the interrogation that follows is unnervingly precise, as though the doctor already knows more about the case than he should. His connection to the mystery is the kind that only becomes visible in retrospect, which is precisely what makes him dangerous.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/mr_parker)

_professional_

Parker, a police detective, interacts with Sir Julian Freke as a suspect and professional acquaintance during the murder investigation.

### [Lord Peter Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey)

_rivalry_

Lord Peter and Sir Julian Freke are intellectual adversaries, with Wimsey suspecting Freke of murder.

### [Sir Reuben Levy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/sir_reuben_levy)

_rivalry_

Sir Julian Freke and Sir Reuben Levy were professional rivals and former colleagues, with Freke harboring deep resentment.

### [Bunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/bunter)

_professional_

Bunter interacts with Sir Julian Freke in the course of gathering information for Lord Peter.

### [Lord Peter Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey)

_rivalry_

Lord Peter and Sir Julian Freke are intellectual adversaries, with Wimsey suspecting Freke of murder.

### [Mr. Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/mr_parker)

_professional_

Parker, a police detective, interacts with Sir Julian Freke as a suspect and professional acquaintance during the murder investigation.

### [Sir Reuben Levy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/sir_reuben_levy)

_rivalry_

Sir Julian Freke and Sir Reuben Levy were professional rivals and former colleagues, with Freke harboring deep resentment.

### [Mr. Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/mr_parker)

_professional_

Parker, a police detective, interacts with Sir Julian Freke as a suspect and professional acquaintance during the murder investigation.

### [Lord Peter Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey)

_rivalry_

Lord Peter and Sir Julian Freke are intellectual adversaries, with Wimsey suspecting Freke of murder.

### [Bunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/bunter)

_professional_

Bunter interacts with Sir Julian Freke in the course of gathering information for Lord Peter.

### [Sir Reuben Levy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/sir_reuben_levy)

_rivalry_

Sir Julian Freke and Sir Reuben Levy were professional rivals and former colleagues, with Freke harboring deep resentment.

## In the story

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

Mentioned as the famous surgeon and neurologist living next to St. Luke's Hospital; he was consulted by Inspector Sugg about the body.

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

Mentioned as a former suitor of Christine Ford (Lady Levy) and a distinguished surgeon.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/v)

His new book on 'The Physiological Bases of the Conscience' is reviewed in the Times Literary Supplement, and Lord Peter comments on his theories.

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

Called as a medical witness; describes discovering the body and conducting the examination, and is described as a striking figure.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/vii)

Mentioned as having met with Levy on Monday night and as having engaged in suspicious stock transactions in Peruvian Oil shares.

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

His book 'Physiological Bases of the Conscience' triggers Lord Peter's revelation.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/ix)

Discussed in Bunter's report: he had a late visitor on Monday evening, was active in and out of the private door all night, and took a bath at 3 a.m.

### [The Net Closes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/x)

Implicated by Wimsey as the murderer, with motives including professional rivalry and a fascination with crime; his access to bodies and surgical skills are highlighted.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/xi)

Conducts a medical examination of Lord Peter, offering an injection which is refused, and displays a calm, clinical demeanor.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/chapters/xiii)

Writes a detailed confession letter explaining his crime and the reasoning behind it.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters/sir_julian_freke
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/whose_body_se/characters