Quoyle: The protagonist, a quiet, hulking man with a troubled past. He’s a bit of a lost soul at the start—awkward, self-conscious, and shaped by years of emotional neglect. He moves to Newfoundland with his daughters after his unfaithful wife, Petal, dies in a car accident. He works as a reporter for the local paper, The Gammy Bird, and slowly finds his footing in life.

Petal Bear: Quoyle’s late wife. She’s a chaotic, selfish figure—beautiful but cruel. She cheats on Quoyle relentlessly and dies early in the story, leaving him to pick up the pieces. Her death sets the whole journey in motion.

Bunny Quoyle: Quoyle’s older daughter, a sensitive and imaginative girl. She’s got a bit of a wild streak and struggles with her mother’s death, sometimes seeing things that unsettle her.

Sunshine Quoyle: Quoyle’s younger daughter, more cheerful and straightforward than Bunny, but still affected by the family’s upheaval.

Aunt Agnis Hamm: Quoyle’s tough, no-nonsense aunt. She’s a widow and upholsterer who convinces Quoyle to move to Newfoundland, their ancestral home. She’s got her own dark history, revealed bit by bit, and a strong, practical presence.

Wavey Prowse: A local woman Quoyle meets in Newfoundland. She’s a widow with a disabled son, quiet and kind, and becomes a love interest for Quoyle as he starts to heal.

Dennis Buggit: A shipbuilder and friend of Quoyle’s. He’s a decent, hardworking guy who helps Quoyle settle into the community.

Jack Buggit: Dennis’s father and the editor of The Gammy Bird. He’s gruff, eccentric, and a bit of a local legend—runs the paper with a sharp eye and hires Quoyle despite his lack of experience.

Tert Card: A loudmouth reporter at The Gammy Bird. He’s abrasive and full of himself, often clashing with Quoyle.

Billy Pretty: An older, gentler reporter at the paper. He’s a bit of a philosopher, offering Quoyle quiet wisdom and insight into Newfoundland life.