Tatyana Borissovna and Her Nephew

Characters

• Tatyana Borissovna — a small landowner, a widow: An unschooled widow of fifty whose house is a refuge and comfort to her young neighbours.
• Andrei Ivanovitch Byelovzorov (Andryusha) — the nephew, an artist from Petersburg: A meek orphan draughtsman who comes back from Petersburg a smug, talentless sponger.
• Piotr Mihalitch Benevolensky — a collegiate councillor, Andryusha's patron: An agreeable official who adores an art he knows nothing about and carries the boy off to Petersburg.
• Policarp — valet, steward and waiter: A retired fiddler of seventy, a lover of nightingales and personal enemy of 'Bonaparty'.
• the old maid — a neighbour's sister, an effusive visitor: An exalted spinster of thirty-eight who sets out to complete her hostess's education.
• the narrator — a neighbour and guest of the house: He leads the reader to the estate, describes its mistress and hears her complain of modern songs.
• Agafya — the housekeeper, once her nurse: A good-natured, tearful, toothless old woman in charge of house, stores and kitchen.
• Vasya — Policarp's grandson, a page boy: A curly-headed, sharp-eyed boy of twelve whom his grandfather trains to curse Bonaparte.