Baron Hector Hulot d’Ervy

Baron Hector Hulot d’Ervy (ehk-TOHR ew-LOH dehr-VEE), a councilor of state and officer of the Legion of Honor, is notorious for his profligacy. His ascent in governmental circles is marred by scandals, causing distress to his family. Initially enjoying a happy marriage, he turns away from his devoted wife to associate with Paris's most infamous courtesans, becoming incorrigible. His reckless lifestyle not only squanders the family fortune but also tarnishes their honor, indirectly causing the deaths of his honorable brother and his wife’s uncle due to misguided investments and the misappropriation of state funds. Despite possessing charm, wit, and manners, these qualities are ultimately overshadowed by his actions. In the course of the novel, his romantic conquests include six women: an actress, a singer, a slanderer's wife, two young girls, and a peasant maid whom he eventually marries following his wife's untimely death.

Baroness Adeline Hulot

Baroness Adeline Hulot (ahd-LEEN), née Adeline Fischer, epitomizes devotion and endurance. Despite her husband's numerous transgressions, she remains steadfast in her faith in God and the mysterious workings of His will. Maintaining her dignity even under compromising circumstances, she goes so far as to seek help from one of Hector's mistresses during a crisis. Her greatest ordeal comes when she learns of Hector's promise to elevate a kitchen servant to baroness status upon her death, a revelation that ultimately leads to her demise.

Lisbeth Fischer

Lisbeth Fischer (leez-BEHT), known as Cousin Bette, is the envious cousin of Baroness Adeline Hulot and the family's perennial spinster. While she harbors jealousy towards her cousin's societal status, she conceals her avarice and resentment, often becoming a source of comfort for the Hulots during their tribulations. Though she prides herself on her independence and financial security as an embroiderer, loneliness leads her to take Count Wenceslas Steinbock, a talented young Polish sculptor she saved from suicide, as her lover. When Steinbock falls for and marries Adeline's daughter, Hortense, Cousin Bette orchestrates a subtle revenge. She introduces Steinbock and Hector to her acquaintance, Madame Valérie Marneffe, whose allure captivates both men. Bette's spiteful schemes unravel in the end, though Adeline and Hortense remain unaware of her machinations to disrupt their happiness, and she continues to be perceived as the family's eccentric yet good-hearted relative.

Victorin Hulot

Victorin Hulot (veek-toh-RAN) is the son of Baron Hulot and Adeline. His father's scandals and disgrace transform Victorin into a man of integrity and responsibility. He diligently works to restore and expand the family fortune, striving to mend the damage caused by his father's reckless behaviors.

Célestin Hulot

Célestin Hulot (seh-lehs-TA[N]) is Victorin Hulot's wife and the daughter of Monsieur Crével, a prosperous retired perfumer. Her marriage aligns with the Hulot family, intertwining them with Crével's wealth.

Monsieur Crével

Monsieur Crével (kray-VEHL) is a wealthy former perfumer who emulates Napoleon's manners. Resentful after Baron Hulot woos away his mistress, Crével unsuccessfully attempts to seduce Adeline Hulot. He later disrupts Hortense Hulot's engagement to Counselor Lebas by revealing that the baron cannot provide a suitable dowry. Through Cousin Bette, he meets Valérie Marneffe, becoming Hector's rival for her affections. Crével marries Valérie following her husband's death, but his joy is short-lived; both he and Valérie succumb to a mysterious illness.

Valérie Marneffe

Valérie Marneffe (vah-lay-REE mahr-NEHF) is the illegitimate daughter of a marshal of France and the wife of a nondescript government clerk. Notorious for her beauty and infidelities, she initially serves as a pawn in Cousin Bette's scheme against the Hulots. However, Valérie soon manipulates her lovers, including Baron Hulot, Steinbock, Crével, and her husband, each believing they fathered...