Birdsong Characters

A British miner and Jack Firebrace’s closet companion in war. Shaw is killed when Germans blow up a section of the British trench.

Elizabeth’s mother, and the biological child of Stephen Wraysford and Isabelle Azaire. After Isabelle dies in the flu epidemic, Françoise is raised by Isabelle’s sister, Jeanne.

Stephen Wraysford’s commanding officer during the war. Gray is Scottish, and he spends most of his time reading novels and books about psychiatry. He manages to survive the war and helps Stephen’s granddaughter, Elizabeth, learn more about the war in 1978.

The husband of Irene, Elizabeth Benson’s business partner. Bob has knowledge of language and archeology, and he cracks the secret code of Stephen’s journals.

Elizabeth Benson’s business partner and Bob’s wife. Irene and Bob are an older couple who never had children. Irene is jealous when Elizabeth becomes pregnant.

Elizabeth Benson’s business partner. Erich is an older man from Austria, and he is disappointed that Elizabeth is not interested in marrying his son.

Jack Firebrace’s wife and John’s mother. Margaret is an attentive wife who sends Jack letters and parcels of socks and food during the war.

René Azaire’s daughter and Isabelle Azaire’s stepdaughter. As the story begins, Lisette is a teenager who inappropriately comes on to Stephen sexually. She grows into a woman and marries Lucien Lebrun, the dyer who instigates the dyers’ strike.

René Azaire’s son and Isabelle Azaire’s stepson.

Bérard’s wife. Madame Bérard spends most of her time admiring her husband.

René Azaire’s senior man at the textile factory. Meyraux is an honest man, and he helps the workers and René agree on terms and avoid a strike.

One of the textile dyers in Amiens and the lead agitator in the dyers’ strike. Lucien befriends Isabelle when she brings his family food during the strike, and false rumors circulate that they are having an affair. He later marries Lisette, René Azaire’s daughter.

Isabelle and Jeanne’s eldest sister. Mathilde is a sullen young woman who is given to fits of anger. She marries and moves from home.

Isabelle and Jeanne’s elder sister. She forms a fierce alliance with her sister, Delphine, and she later marries and moves from home.

Isabelle and Jeanne’s elder sister. She is close with her sister, Beatrice. Delphine too marries and moves from home.

A young infantry officer who courts Isabelle before she marries René Azaire. Isabelle’s father tells Jean he is “too undistinguished” to marry his daughter and ultimately scares him off.

A British miner. Turner is killed underground in an explosion during the war.

A British miner. Tyson shares a dugout with Jack Firebrace and Arthur Shaw. He is killed in a battle at Beaumont-Hamel.

One of the infantrymen in Stephen Wraysford’s unit. He goes mad early in the war and continues fighting. Tipper reflects the deep shellshock faced by many World War I soldiers.

One of Stephen Wraysford’s commanding officers.

Elizabeth Benson’s old college friend and Lindsay’s husband.

Elizabeth Benson’s old college friend and Mark’s wife. Lindsay is constantly trying to fix Elizabeth up with new men.

One of the men Lindsay tries to fix Elizabeth up with. Stuart is kind and interested in Elizabeth. He is accomplished and cultured, and is considered a good catch; however, he is also overbearing and pretentious. Stuart asks Elizabeth to marry him and she declines.

One of the infantrymen in Stephen Wraysford’s unit. Ellis convinces Stephen to go to Amiens with him during the war. He is killed by enemy gunfire during an assault.

One of the infantrymen in Stephen Wraysford’s unit. Douglas is fatally injured in an explosion. Stephen holds him as he dies.

A Prussian soldier with whom Isabelle Azarie falls in love during the German occupation of Amiens. He is a kind man who takes good care of Isabelle’s child. Max is injured during the war and his leg is amputated. He dies shortly after the war.

A British miner.

Madame Bérard’s mother.

A married European man with whom Elizabeth has a relationship. Elizabeth is reasonably happy with him, though she knows that Robert is unlikely to leave his wife.