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Quotes
Anton Rosicky
Anton Rosicky is the protagonist of the story, a 65-year-old Czech immigrant to Nebraska who lives on his farm with his wife, Mary, and their children. Rosicky has lived all over the world—in Bohemia…
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Mary Rosicky
Mary Rosicky is Anton Rosicky’s wife and the mother of their six children. Like Rosicky, she is Czech, and like him, she is kind, generous, playful, and appreciative of life’s small pleasures. Mary…
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Doctor Burleigh
Doctor Burleigh is Rosicky’s doctor. He has known the Rosicky family since he was a little boy, since he grew up near them in rural Nebraska before going to the city to get a…
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Rudolph Rosicky
Rudolph is Anton and Mary’s oldest son. He has recently married Polly, a woman who grew up in town and whose parents are American-born, in contrast to Rudolph’s immigrant parents. Rudolph’s perspective on…
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Polly Rosicky
Polly is Rudolph’s wife, a girl with American-born parents who grew up going to school with Rudolph. Polly is initially cold to Rosicky and Mary and seems to find their immigrant status alienating. She…
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Minor Characters
Miss Pearl
Pearl is a woman who works at the general store. Rosicky goes out of his way to visit and talk to her.
The Rosicky Children
There are six Rosicky children, including the oldest, Rudolph. The other Rosicky children include four other sons and one daughter, Josephine. They are all warm, well-mannered, and kind people who care deeply for their family.
The Lifschnitzes
The Lifschnitz family is comprised of a German tailor, his wife, and their children. Rosicky works for them in London.
Violin Player
The violin player is the impoverished boarder living with the Lifschnitz family while Rosicky is there.
Zichec
Zichec is Rosicky’s closest friend in New York, a cabinet maker who is also Czech. Rosicky lives with Zichec and their friendship is close and at times resembles a marriage.
Loeffler
Loeffler is an Austrian furniture maker who rents Zichec and Rosicky a room in New York.
The Marshalls and the Fasslers
The Marshalls and the Fasslers are two families who live in Nebraska and have more money and more profitable land than the Rosickys. They both stand in contrast to the Rosicky family—while both are richer, their homes are less happy and their children less healthy.
The Creamery Agent
The creamery agent tries to convince Rosicky and Mary to sell their cream for extra money, but they refuse, choosing instead to give their extra cream to their children.
Methodist Preacher
The Methodist preacher comes to the Rosickys to pray for them after they suffer corn crop failure—but Rosicky is too busy playing in the horse water tank with his children.
The Four Bohemians
The four Czech people—two men and two women—save Rosicky in London by giving him food and money, and eventually paying for his passage to New York.
