John Braverman Character Analysis in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

John Braverman is Celia’s husband and Harry’s lover. He marries Celia around the same time Evelyn marries Rex North, but Harry eventually tells Evelyn that John is his lover and that John’s marriage to Celia is merely a marriage of convenience. John lives in New York with Celia, Evelyn, and Harry for a long time, and though he has a reputation as a tough football player, he’s the most softhearted one of the four. When he dies at the age of 50, he leaves Harry and Celia heartbroken, suggesting that though his romantic relationship was with Harry, he was nevertheless a devoted husband and friend to Celia.

John Braverman Character Timeline in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The timeline below shows where the character John Braverman appears in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Femininity, Sexuality, and Power Theme Icon

...Two weeks later, an article in Photomoment announces that Celia St. James is engaged to John Braverman, a New York Giants quarterback, amidst a streak of successful film releases. A week... (full context)

...about him and doesn’t want to start another relationship. He tells her he’s been seeing John Braverman, confirming that Celia’s marriage to John is “fake”: they sleep in separate beds. (full context)

...to Harry allowing her and Celia to have a real relationship the way he and John do, and even if she can’t be with Celia, a life with Harry is all... (full context)

...each thigh—a dress that will end up in every career retrospective. She admires Celia and John until Harry tells her to stop staring. He asks her if, in the event that... (full context)

...fifth marriage. It goes on to report that Celia was the maid of honor and John was the best man. (full context)

...drunk at the wedding, struggling not to feel jealous even though she, Evelyn, Harry, and John all know that the marriage is only going ahead so that they can live out... (full context)

...not paying any attention. She and Celia spend their nights in Evelyn’s apartment; Harry and John spend their nights in John’s. The four of them go out together appearing like two... (full context)

Evelyn’s biography picks up on her 36th birthday. She, Harry, Celia, and John go out to the Palace, allegedly the most expensive restaurant in the world. They drink... (full context)

...together. Evelyn says they will, and she reassures Celia that they’ll work out Celia and John’s place in the arrangement as they go. Celia asks whether it’s an issue for Evelyn... (full context)

...eat and sleep on her. In the first few months of Connor’s life, Celia and John go out of town to shoot films, leaving Harry and Evelyn to live essentially like... (full context)

Just before shooting starts on Three A.M., Harry turns 45. Evelyn, Celia, and John plan a picnic in the park. When Harry arrives, he says it’s the perfect celebration.... (full context)

...the phone when Evelyn calls, and a few weeks later, she files for divorce from John. Evelyn feels that Celia is divorcing her by divorcing John. She gets John to track... (full context)

Evelyn’s history picks back up a few years after Celia leaves her. John dies of a heart attack just before he turns 50. Connor is five, and Evelyn... (full context)

...wants to stop living a lie, but he tells her he’s not living a lie—since John died, he hasn’t been with anyone he really cares about. He doesn’t think it’s fair... (full context)

...This announces Celia’s death, detailing her “girl-next-door allure” and saying that after her marriage to John Braverman, she never remarried. (full context)