The Great Alone Character Analysis

Leni Allbright

Leni Allbright is the child of Coraline and Ernt Allbright. She begins the novel as an awkward teenager who doesn’t fit in anywhere. Her parents move around constantly, and she never gets a chance to… read analysis of Leni Allbright

Coraline (Cora) Allbright

Coraline Allbright, or Cora, is the mother of Leni Allbright and the wife of Ernt Allbright. Cora drops out of school to live with Ernt and have his child at the age of 16… read analysis of Coraline (Cora) Allbright

Ernt Allbright

Ernt Allbright is the father of Leni Allbright and the husband of Coraline Allbright. Once a happy young man, Ernt is radically altered by the horrors of the Vietnam War. While in Vietnam, Ernt… read analysis of Ernt Allbright

Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker is the son of Tom and Geneva Walker, as well as the brother of Alyeska Walker. At the age of 13, Matthew meets Leni Allbright, the only other person his… read analysis of Matthew Walker

Tom Walker

Tom Walker is the father of Matthew and Alyeska Walker, as well as the ex-husband of Geneva Walker. Tom’s parents, Eckhart and Lily Walker, were among the first settlers of Kaneq. As a… read analysis of Tom Walker

Marge Birdsall

Marge Birdsall, affectionately known as Large Marge by her friends, is the owner of the general store in Kaneq. She also lives a half mile from the Allbrights, making her their closest neighbor. Marge first… read analysis of Marge Birdsall

Earl Harlan

Earl Harlan, also known as Mad Earl, is the father of Bo Harlan, Clyde Harlan, and Thelma Schill. Earl writes to Ernt to let him know that Bo bequeathed him some land… read analysis of Earl Harlan

Mrs. Golliher

Mrs. Golliher is Cora’s wealthy mother. She is largely estranged from Cora’s family because she does not like or trust Ernt. At the beginning of the novel, she gives Cora money and warns her… read analysis of Mrs. Golliher

Cecil Golliher

Cecil Golliher is Cora’s father. Like her mother, he is well-off and does not approve of Ernt. Because he is a lawyer, Cecil has connections, which allow him to create false identities for Cora… read analysis of Cecil Golliher

Thelma Schill

Thelma Schill is the daughter of Earl Harlan and the sister of Bo and Clyde Harlan. She greets the Allbrights warmly and offers to help Cora in whatever way she can. When Ernt and… read analysis of Thelma Schill

Geneva Walker

Geneva is the ex-wife of Tom Walker, as well as the mother of Matthew Walker. She is romantically involved with Calhoun Malvey. Geneva helps the Allbrights get settled on their new homestead… read analysis of Geneva Walker

Alyeska Walker

Alyeska is the daughter of Tom and Geneva Walker, as well as the sister of Matthew Walker. She is away at college for much of the novel, though she comes home for her… read analysis of Alyeska Walker

Minor Characters

Bo Harlan

Bo Harlan is the son of Earl Harlan. He is also the crew chief of Ernt’s helicopter in the Vietnam War. Bo and Ernt are captured and tortured together. Their captors make Ernt watch as they kill Bo. Bo leaves his land in Alaska to Ernt.

Tica Rhodes –

Tica Rhodes is Leni’s teacher in Kaneq. Tica is a kind, intelligent woman who cares deeply about her students. She regularly takes them on field trips, especially when tensions in the community are high. In addition, she is one of the people who offers to provide Leni with college funds.

Marge’s Sister

Marge’s sister is never given a proper name, but Marge tells the Allbrights that she died as a result of domestic abuse. Her death sparked Marge’s move to Alaska and makes Marge especially wary of Ernt.

Lily Walker

Lily Walker is the mother of Tom Walker. She and her husband Eckhart were among the first people to settle in Kenai, Alaska. Matthew gives Leni an article Lily wrote about her life in Alaska.

Eckhart Walker

Eckhart Walker is the father of Tom Walker. He and his wife Lily were among the first people to settle in Kenai, Alaska.

Natalie Watkins

Natalie Watkins lives in Kaneq. Along with Marge and Geneva, she helps the Allbrights get acquainted with Alaskan life.

Ted Schill

Ted Schill is the husband of Thelma Schill and the father of Marybet Schill.

Marybet Schill

Marybet Schill is the daughter of Thelma and Ted Schill. She is affectionately known as Moppet.

Clyde Harlan

Clyde Harlan is the son of Earl Harlan and the brother of Bo Harlan and Thelma Schill. He is married to Donna Harlan and has four children: Darryl, Dave, Agnes, and Marthe.

Donna Harlan

Donna Harlan is the wife of Clyde Harlan. Together they have four children: Darryl, Dave, Agnes, and Marthe.

Darryl Harlan

Darryl Harlan is the son of Clyde and Donna. He and Dave are twins.

Dave Harlan

Dave Harlan is the son of Clyde and Donna. He and Darryl are twins.

Agnes Harlan

Agnes is the daughter of Clyde and Donna Harlan.

Marthe Harlan

Marthe is the daughter of Clyde and Donna Harlan.

Axle

Axle is a standoffish 16-year-old. When Leni first arrives in Kaneq, he is the only person Leni sees who is around her age. He is related to the Harlans.

Curt Ward

Curt Ward is a by-the-book policeman. He coaxes a confession out of Leni and arrests her.

Dieter Manse

Dieter Manse is a former Pan Am pilot. During a school trip, he flies Leni’s class to a nearby inlet.

Demby Cowe

Demby Cowe is Leni’s state-appointed lawyer. He tells her to plead not guilty.

Atki

Atki is a native Alaskan and Tom Walker’s second wife.

Kenai

Kenai is a child of Leni and Matthew.

Cora

Cora is a child of Leni and Matthew.

Calhoun Malvey

Calhoun Malvey dates Geneva Walker.

Crazy Pete

A man Leni sees who talks to a goose. Matthew tells her that the bird’s name is Matilda, and it is married to Crazy Pete.

Matilda

Matilda is Crazy Pete’s goose. Matthew tells Leni that Matilda and Crazy Pete are married.

Jim

Jim is a bartender at the local saloon in Kaneq.

John

John is the judge at Leni’s trial.

Adrian

Adrian is the prosecutor at Leni’s trial.

Darrow

Darrow is Alyeska’s husband.

The Great Alone

Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone Characters