Thomas Hart
Thomas Hart is the protagonist and is portrayed as a thoughtful and melancholic man. He is a long-standing writer for the Essex Chronicle where his love of literature and his interest in the stars shine through. Thomas has a connection to astronomy through owning a telescope and using the night sky as a liturgy of sorts. He mixes his remaining faith in God with his love of celestial bodies. As the novel progresses, Thomas’s past and present are interwoven with his interactions with various characters, including Grace Macaulay and Maria Văduva Bell. His age is a reminder of the passage of time as he reflects on his life, regrets, and achievements. Despite a loss in height and gain in breadth as he ages, his intellectual curiosity remains strong, though he feels the weight of his years.
He is also a mentor to Grace having known her since she was a baby. His feelings toward her are complex as they combine a fatherly affection with a sense of duty. The novel explores his internal conflicts, particularly his struggle with faith and the meaning of his work. Throughout the novel, Thomas grapples with a mysterious investigation involving Maria Văduva, an astronomer from the past. His obsession with the details of this case highlights his scholarly nature.
Grace Macaulay
Grace Macaulay is introduced as a spirited woman whom Thomas Hart has known since she was an infant. Her black hair and farmyard-animal-like demeanor signify her untamed and raw nature. Grace is at odds with her surroundings, as she feels out of place in modern society. She is devoutly religious but her understanding of morality is at times haphazard and contradictory. Despite her stern upbringing and personal struggles, Grace has moments of curiosity and rebelliousness.
Her relationship with Thomas is central to the novel. He sees her grow from a child into a young woman and feels responsible for her well-being. Her moral rigidity is juxtaposed with her emotional complexity, as she struggles with what it means to be "good."
Nick Carleton
Nick Carleton is a younger man and editor of the Essex Chronicle, who often interacts with Thomas Hart. He is characterized as a modern professional managing a paper that is no longer what it used to be. Additionally, he oversees a quieter office filled with diligent young staff who do not quite match the energy and intensity of earlier days. Despite his position of authority, Nick holds a deep respect for Thomas, referring to him as the paper’s longest-serving and most admired contributor.
His personal life intertwines with his professional role through his grief over the recent death of his father. This personal loss brings him closer to Thomas with whom he shares intimate conversations about life and death.
Maria Văduva Bell
She is a historical figure whose presence looms over the novel, though she is not alive in the contemporary storyline. A Romanian astronomer and close friend of Cora Seaborne, Maria’s tragic story unfolds through letters and documents uncovered by Thomas Hart. She was a passionate woman driven by her love for the stars and her desire to discover a comet. Her motivations were tied to a man she loved, who passed away before she could fulfill her dreams.
Maria’s letters reveal her despair after this loss as she feels that everything she did—her astronomical observations and work—was for him. Her emotional turmoil leads her to destroy some of her findings and she seems to vanish from history. She leaves behind only fragments of her life for Thomas and others to piece together.
