Larry Darell
Larry Darell is the protagonist of the novel. At the age of sixteen, he ran away from home to Canada to be a pilot. When the First World War was over, he came back home. In spite of the fact that Larry returned almost safe and sound, only injured, his friends and a girlfriend, Isabel Bradley, sensed that something was wrong with him. Unlike other young men, he didn’t want to go into business and make money. Larry felt that he was arrogant and needed knowledge, experience and answers.
Mr. Maugham
The narrator, Mr. Maugham, is also a participant of the story. He is an Englishman and a quite successful writer. Like Larry, he is also fond of travelling and does it a lot. A reader sees the story through his eyes.
Isabel Bradley
Isabel Bradley is an ex-fiancé of Larry. She decides to break off the engagement, when she comes to a conclusion that Larry is not going to stop his “loafing” and be like the rest of her male friends. Although Larry is her only one true love, she is quite happy to be married to Gray Maturin. Her obsession with Larry is so strong that she does everything possible to prevent him from marrying Sophie.
Mrs. Bradley
Mrs. Bradley is Isabel’s mother. She is extremely contemporary woman who doesn’t suppress her daughter’s will. She doesn’t want Isabel to waste her time for waiting for Larry, but accepts her daughter’s wish. Only when she finds out that she is ill, she asks Isabel to make up her mind.
Elliot Templeton
Elliot Templeton is an uncle of Isabel, a successful art dealer and the biggest snob. Although he is born and raised in the USA, he moves to Paris, for, according to him, it is the only one place for a civilized man like him. Elliot surrounds himself with people of the highest social class and successful artists, writers etc. All his life is an endless party and he is ready to waste a lot of money in order to be in the center of everyone’s attention. In spite of the fact that he arranges the most breath-taking parties and is often invited to the most exclusive social events, none of his so called friends, except for the narrator, comes to visit him when he falls ill.
Kosti
Kosti is a Polish officer who runs away from his Motherland and settles down in France. He and Larry used to work together in a mine. They also go together to Germany together, but later on Larry leaves him behind in order to continue his way alone.
Sophie McDonald
Sophie McDonald is a childhood friend of Larry, Isabel and Gray. When she was a teenager, she liked writing poetry about the struggles of the poor. She was also secretly in love with Larry, who liked to spend time with her, reading books and talking. She got married, was madly in love with her husband and adored her child, but her happiness was destroyed after the car accident in which her husband and child were killed. She started drinking and changing lovers one after another. She moved to Paris and added opium to a list of her addictions. In an attempt to help her, Larry offered her to marry him. Later on she ran away from Larry and returned to her unhealthy habits. She was found with her throat cut.
Gray Maturin
Gray Maturin is Isabel’s husband and Larry’s friend. His love for Isabel and their children was remarkable. Gray was a businessman, who couldn’t imagine how someone was able to live idly. When the Great Depression started, his business was ruined and so was his confidence. Larry helped him to get rid of migraines and restored Gray’s confidence, so that he could return to work as soon as possible.
Father Ensheim
Father Ensheim is a priest. He also was helping Larry in his pursuit of God.
Suzanne
Suzanne is a friend of Larry and the narrator.
Dr. Nelson
Dr. Nelson is Larry’s guardian.
