The Flivver King

Henry Ford is one of the novel’s protagonists and the real-life founder of the Ford Motor Company. Ford grows up in Detroit and invents his first working car at 28 years old. He is idealistic… read analysis of Henry Ford

Abner, an employee of Henry Ford, is one of the novel’s protagonists. Initially, Abner is idealistic; he has a firm belief in the American Dream and knows that if he works hard he can… read analysis of Abner Shutt

Tom is Abner and Milly’s youngest child, and John, Hank, and Daisy’s brother. He’s an eager child who likes to tell others what to do. As Tom grows up, he doesn’t… read analysis of Tom “Tommy” Shutt Jr.

John is Abner and Milly’s first child, and Hank, Daisy, and Tom Jr.’s brother. Growing up, John takes interest in his father’s work and attends Ford’s trade school. He then… read analysis of John Shutt

Daisy is Abner and Milly’s third child and John, Hank, and Tom Jr.’s sister. Daisy attends business college and dreams of being a stenographer in an office, but she ends up… read analysis of Daisy Shutt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States, serving four terms from 1933 to 1945. F.D.R. was elected largely in response to the Great Depression, which began in 1929, as Americans hoped… read analysis of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (F.D.R.)

Milly is Abner’s wife and John, Hank, Daisy, and Tom Jr.’s mother. Milly also has two additional children who die shortly after being born, and as a result of these… read analysis of Milly Crock Shutt

Tom Sr. is Abner’s father. At the beginning of the book, Tom works in a freight-car factory making $1.40 a day. Although he is poor, he maintains faith in the American Dream and believes… read analysis of Tom Shutt Sr.

Dell is Tom Jr.’s college friend and eventual wife. Dell is the daughter of a state senator from Iowa, but like Tom, she recognizes the need for greater economic equality and benefits for the… read analysis of Dell Brace

Bennett is a former boxer in the navy whom Ford chooses to lead his security department during the Great Depression. Bennett trains 3,600 private police to guard the gates of the plant, report workers for… read analysis of Harry Bennett

Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. Prior to becoming the president, Wilson was the president of Princeton college and a Democratic governor of New Jersey. Wilson initially… read analysis of Woodrow Wilson

Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. He was in office during the stock market crash of 1929, which signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. Hoover… read analysis of Herbert Hoover

Dean Marquis is an advisor to Henry Ford. An Episcopal clergyman, Dean Marquis initially heads Ford’s Social Department, helping to determine which employees deserve bonuses based on their virtuous lifestyle. But after World War… read analysis of Dean Marquis

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt was a Republican who oversaw a period of huge economic growth while also prioritizing the labor movement over capitalism… read analysis of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt