Keep The Aspidistra Flying - Characters

Characters

• Gordon Comstock – a 'well-educated and reasonably intelligent' young man possessed of a minor 'talent for writing'.
• Rosemary Waterlow – Comstock's girlfriend, whom he met at the advertising agency, but about whom little is revealed.
• Philip Ravelston – the wealthy left-wing publisher, editor of Antichrist, who supports and encourages Comstock.
• Julia Comstock – Gordon's sister who is as poor as he and who, having always made sacrifices for him, continues to do so. "A tall, ungainly girl her nature was simple and affectionate."
• Mrs. Wisbeach – lodging house landlady at Willowbed Road who imposes strict rules on her tenants.
• Mr. Flaxman – fellow lodger, a salesman, travelling representative of the Queen of Sheba Toilet Requisites Co., temporarily separated from his wife.
• Mr. McKechnie – the lazy Scot who owns the first bookshop, white-haired and white-bearded, a teetotaler and snuff taker.
• Mr. Cheeseman – sinister and suspicious owner of the second book shop.
• Mr. Erskine - a large, slow-moving man with a broad, healthy, expressionless face - managing director of the advertising agency, the New Albion Publicity Company - he promotes Gordon to a position as an advertising copy writer.
• The aspidistra - Herald of a middle class, settled lifestyle.