The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

Edwin Drood, a young engineer with prospects of becoming a partner in the firm of his late father. He disappears and is presumed dead, but his fate and murderer are never disclosed in this mystery novel, unfinished at the author’s death.

Jack Jasper, Drood’s young uncle and guardian, a cathedral choirmaster. An opium addict, he is in love with Rosa Bud and is perhaps the likeliest candidate for the role of murderer.

Rosa Bud, an orphan. She and Drood agree to break their parentally formed, longstanding engagement. She fears Jasper and loves Neville Landless.

Neville Landless, an orphaned Englishman newly arrived from Ceylon who falls in love with Rosa. His quarrel with Drood is a factor in his being suspected of the murder.

Helena Landless, Rosa’s close friend, the sister of Neville.

Mr. Crisparkle, Landless’ tutor, who introduces him to Drood and Jasper and who aids him in taking refuge in London after Drood’s disappearance.

Mr. Grewgious, Rosa’s guardian, from whom she seeks protection after Jasper tries to blackmail her into loving him by threatening to expose Landless.

Datchery, a late-appearing stranger apparently engaged in spying on Jasper.

Durdles, a stonemason who works at Cloisterham Cathedral, where Jasper is choirmaster. One night when Durdles is very drunk, Jasper steals from him the key to an underground tomb.

Bibliography:

Baker, Richard M. The Drood Murder. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1951. Particularly good for its discussion of possible influences on the novel as well as of antecedents in Dickens’ own work.

Collins, Philip. Dickens and Crime. 2d ed. London: Macmillan, 1965. Interesting attempt to relate Dickens’ writings about crime to events in his own life and times. A prime source for the many theories about the personality of Jack Jasper and his role as murderer.

Fruttero, Carlo, and Franco Lucentino. The D Case, Or, The Truth About the Mystery of Edwin Drood. Translated by Gregory Dowling. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1993. A tour de force, in which the world’s most famous fictional detectives try to finish Dickens’ novel. The first half contains a good edition of the work, while the second demonstrates an extremely close reading of the text with excellent and witty discussions of current and past theories.

Rowland, Peter. The Disappearance of Edwin Drood. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990. The most recent addition to the honorable scholarly pursuit of finishing the novel.

Symons, Julian. Mortal Consequences: A History from the Detective Story to the Crime Novel. New York: Schocken Books, 1973. A history of the suspense genre. Compares and links Dickens’ work to that of Collins and Émile Gaboriau.