Juliet Ashton
Juliet Ashton is a writer based in London. She had a popular newspaper column during World War II called Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War, which brought humor to people’s lives during the war. These columns are made into a book and she is touring England promoting the book. She wants to do a more serious project. She is allowed to do this for the London Times and writes about the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Her correspondence with the society gives her the idea to write a book about the Guernsey Island inhabitants and their German occupation during the war. Juliet becomes friends with the society members and proposes to Dawsey Adams.
Sidney Stark
Sidney Stark is Juliet’s publisher and friend. He guides Juliet and tries to protect her. Sidney wants Juliet to write the book on Guernsey and inspires her to center it around Elizabeth McKenna. He sees Elizabeth as the person who influenced everyone on the island. Sidney enjoys visiting Juliet on Guernsey Island. He likes the society members. Isola Pribby enjoys his visits and questions him about his relationship with Juliet. He confides in her that he and Juliet are just friends because he is homosexual. Sidney is a strong influence in Juliet’s life and is the one who tells her that she is in love with Dawsey.
Sophie Strachan
Sophie Strachan is the sister of Sidney Stark. She and Juliet have been friends since they were in school together. She now lives in Scotland with her husband and child. She is concerned about Juliet’s relationship with Markham Reynolds, Jr. She is happy when Juliet realizes that she is in love with Dawsey.
Susan Scott
Susan Scott works for Sidney Stark. She manages Juliet’s book tour. Susan and Juliet become friends during the tour. Susan does not approve of Juliet’s relationship with Markham Reynolds, Jr. and warns Sidney of the relationship. She also keeps an eye on the office when Sidney is out of town. Susan does not trust Sidney’s secretary and tries to warn him about her.
Dawsey Adams
Dawsey Adams is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. He was once a shy man who stuttered. The society gave him confidence and he is more sure of himself. He is now seen as very persuasive. Dawsey is the first to write to Juliet because he came into possession of a book that once was owned by her and writes to her for advice on how to obtain more books by Charles Lamb. This letter is the beginning of Juliet’s correspondence with the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Dawsey falls in love with Juliet, but does not have the courage to tell her. He readily accepts Juliet’s proposal.
Amelia Maugery
Amelia Maugerty is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Amelia is the host of the pig roast that starts the society. She feels bad that her guests were caught out after curfew and readily goes to the bookstore and gets books to make it look as if the literary society exists. She chooses Pickwick Papers to read because she hopes that it will amuse her. Amelia takes on the brunt of the care of Kit when Elizabeth is sent to the labor camp. She also offers Remy a place to stay when she comes to Guernsey. Amelia is a kind-hearted woman who looks after the members of the society.
Isola Priddy
Isola Priddy is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Isola is seen as a witch by some islanders. She makes and dispenses home remedies that some see as potions. Isola chooses Wuthering Heights as her first literary endeavor. She enjoys the book and finds the men in novels more enjoyable than in reality. Isola is outspoken and says whatever is on her mind.
Eben Ramsey
Eben Ramsey is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. He reluctantly agreed to read with the society. The thought of punishment by the Germans if they found out their deceit is what kept him reading. Eben suffered many tragedies during the occupation with the death of his daughter and the evacuation of his grandson.
John Booker
John Booker is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. He was a servant before coming to Guernsey. He stayed behind when his employers rushed off the island before the German invasion. John was drunk the night of the pig roast and his boisterousness on the way home is why several members of the feast were caught out after curfew. He felt bad and used reading to give up drink. He credits the society for keeping him sober. Being of Jewish descent, he pretends to be his employer to escape detection.
Will Thisbee
Will Thisbee is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. He did not want to read and would only come to the meetings if there was food. Since food was scarce on the island, he would make up recipes. He came up with the Potato Peel Pie for their first meeting.
Eli Ramsey
Eli Ramsey is Eben Ramsey’s grandson. He was sent to England during the war. He mother died in childbirth during the German invasion of Guernsey. His father died fighting in the war.
Elizabeth McKenna
Elizabeth McKenna is a strong, fast-thinking woman who comes up with the Guernsey Literary Society. Elizabeth is on Guernsey to shut up the home of her employer when the German soldiers land. She makes the island her home during the occupation and has an impact on so many lives on the island. Elizabeth always does what she believes is right no matter the consequences. She falls in love with a German soldier and has in baby on her own. She helps hide and care for an escaped slave knowing that if she is caught she will be punished. She is caught and is sent to a labor camp in Europe. There she befriends Remy. Elizabeth dies defending another woman from the brutality of the guards. It is just days before the liberation of the camp by Allied soldiers.
Christian Hellman
Christian Hellman is a German soldier. He does not agree with Hitler’s ideals. He treats the islanders with kindness and becomes friends with some. Christian falls in love with Elizabeth and she becomes pregnant with his child. Before the birth of his child, Christian is re-stationed. His boat back to Europe is bombed by Allied forces and he is killed.
Kit
Kit is the daughter of Elizabeth McKenna and Christian Hellman. She is spirited like her mother. Kit never knew her father as he was killed before she was born. The literary society members take terms taking care of Kit. She is a lively child who enjoys life.
Peter Sawyer
Peter Sawyer is an islander of Guernsey. He is in a wheelchair. Elizabeth comes to check on him every week. Peter finds a starved slave in his garden and takes him in. He can be sent to a labor camp for harboring an escaped slave. Elizabeth helps take care of the slave boy. They are caught and Peter Sawyer is sent to the European mainland. Due to his disability, he cannot work so is sent back to Guernsey.
Remy
Remy befriends Elizabeth in the labor camp. Elizabeth helps keep up Remy’s spirits and her talk about Guernsey and the literary society members keeps Remy going during the horrible incarceration. She writes a letter to the society informing them of Elizabeth’s death. The members want Remy to come to Guernsey and she can Elizabeth dreamed of doing when they were in the camp. Dawsey convinces her to make the journey and she finds comfort in Guernsey. She eventually decides to leave to study with a chef in Paris, but vows to return once her apprenticeship is completed.
Gilly Gilbert
Gilly Gilbert is a tabloid journalist who wants to find a story to embarrass Juliet so that he can sell papers. Juliet is popular and a story on her will sell papers.
Billee Bee
Billee Bee is the new secretary of Sidney Stark. She is always willing to do whatever she can for Juliet, while she is off in Guernsey. Billee Bee is actually the girlfriend of Gilly Gilbert and attempts to steal the Oscar Wilde letters while in Guernsey.
Markham Reynolds, Jr.
Markham Reynolds, Jr. is a rich American who pursues Juliet Ashton. He wants her to marry him. He likes to go to dinner parties, the theatre and is very social. Markham likes to take Juliet out and show her to his friends. He does not like that Juliet goes to Guernsey. He goes to the island once and does not like that the islanders of in his view pushed the care of Kit onto Juliet. Juliet throws him out and does not want to see him again.
