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Vianne Rossignol (Mauriac)
A woman living with her daughter and husband in Carriveau prior to the German occupation. Alongside her sister, Isabelle, she is one of the two primary protagonists of the novel.
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Sophie Mauriac
Vianne’s daughter. She admires the bravery and rebellion of her aunt, Isabelle.
Antoine Mauriac
Vianne’s husband. He spends much of the novel as a prisoner of war in Germany after being conscripted into the French army.
Julien Rossignol
Father of Vianne and Isabelle. Traumatized by his involvement in the first World war, he abandoned his children after the death of their mother.
Isabelle Rossignol
Vianne’s brave, bold younger sister and one of the novel’s two primary protagonists. Her desire to participate in the war leads her to become a member the French Resistance.
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Rachel de Champlain
Long-time best friend of Isabelle and mother to Ari and Sarah. Her Jewish background makes her the target of discrimination and violence by the Nazis.
Marc de Champlain
Rachel’s husband. Like Antoine, he is a prisoner of war in Germany.
Ariel de Champlain
Nicknamed “Ari,” he is the young son of Rachel and Marc.
Sarah de Champlain
Rachel’s daughter and a close friend of Sophie.
Gaëtan Dubois
A formerly imprisoned communist and love-interest of Isabelle. Though he does not at first believe that Isabelle is ready to join the Resistance, he later vouches for her to the group in Paris.
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Wolfgang Beck
A German army captain who is placed in Le Jardin.
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Sturmbannfurher von Richter
A cruel, violent Nazi officer who moves into Vianne's home after Beck disappears.
Henri Navarre
A communist and leader of the local Resistance group in Carriveau.
Paul Jeauelere
A French policeman in Carriveau who proves willing to aid the Germans.
Marie-Therese
Mother Superior of the Catholic church that Vianne attends in Carriveau.
Paul Levy
An English professor, friend of Julien, and member of the Resistance in Paris.
Anouk
A woman of Eastern European descent who becomes close to Isabelle during their work in the Resistance.
Monsieur Paretsky
A math teacher at the school in Carriveau. When Vianne questions his arrest, the Gestapo dismisses her from the school.
Micheline Babineau
A family friend living near the Spanish border. She helps Isabelle in her first trip across the Pyrenees.
Eduardo
A strong man of Basque descent who helps Isabelle traverse the Pyrenees with the stranded airmen.
Torrance MacLeish
A stranded British airman who hides in Isabelle’s room and later joins her first journey across the Pyrenees
Ian, codenamed “Tuesday”
Isabelle’s point of contact with the British government.
Julien Mauriac
Vianne's son.
