The Grandmothers
Roz - One of the grandmothers and a central character. She is a strong, independent woman who shares an intense bond with her best friend, Lil. Roz has an affair with Lil’s son, Ian.
Lil: Roz’s best friend and the other grandmother. She is similarly strong-willed and engaged in an affair with Roz’s son, Tom. Lil and Roz’s friendship and relationships with each other's sons create complex dynamics.
Ian: Lil’s son who has an affair with Roz. His relationship with Roz is central to the narrative.
Tom: Roz’s son who has an affair with Lil. His relationship with Lil mirrors that of Roz and Ian.
Mary: Ian’s wife, who feels sidelined due to Ian’s relationship with Roz.

Victoria and the Staveneys
Victoria - A young black woman who becomes involved with a white family, the Staveneys, after a brief relationship with their son, Thomas.
Thomas Staveney - A liberal, well-meaning white man who has a brief affair with Victoria and is the father of her child.
Edward Staveney - Thomas's brother, who is also involved in Victoria’s life.
David - Victoria’s son, whom she raises largely on her own with intermittent help from the Staveneys.
Ann Staveney - Thomas’s mother, who represents the well-meaning but often clueless liberal attitude towards race and class.

The Reason for It
The Leader - A nameless, wise leader reflecting on the downfall of his civilization.
The Chronicler - A narrator who records the story and the decline of the society.
Rulers - Successors of the wise leader, whose incompetence and selfishness contribute to the collapse of the society.

A Love Child
James - A British soldier who has a brief, passionate affair while stationed in India during World War II.
Daphne - The woman with whom James has the affair. She becomes pregnant, and the resulting child creates a lasting emotional impact on James.
Ben - The child born from James and Daphne’s affair.

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