Anna Worley
Anna Worley is the main protagonist of the novel, and Luke Worley's wife. She lives with Luke in the city, where she begins to feel weak, despondent, and jealous of her wealthier friends. When Luke…
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Luke Worley
Luke Worley is the secondary protagonist of the novel, Anna Worley's husband, and Ken's son. When Luke sees his wife becoming physically weak and emotionally drained, he decides that the two of them should move…
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The Boy
The boy is a ghostly child, imagined or hallucinated by Luke and Anna throughout the novel. This character is more symbolic than literal, as he represents Anna's unborn child. After Anna's miscarriage prior to the…
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Ken
Ken Worley is Luke's father. Ken's cynical attitude puts him at odds with Luke, who wants to believe that moving to the country was the right decision. During Ken's visit to his son's new home…
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Gil
Gilbert Reilly (usually called Gil) is an elderly widower and a neighbor of Luke and Anna. Gil quickly befriends Luke and Anna after they move to the small coastal town of Garra Nalla. He…
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Alan
Alan Watts is Bette's husband and the father of Zack and Briony. Alan and his family live in Garra Nalla and befriend Luke and Anna a few months after the couple moves into town…
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Bette
Bette Watts is Alan's wife and the mother of Zack and Briony. She and her family live in Garra Nalla and become friends with Luke and Anna, welcoming them into the town's community…
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Rodney
Rodney Banfield is a plumber and one of Luke and Anna's neighbors in Garra Nalla. Rodney's presence in the couple's lives is minimal, but his childish conversation with Luke makes Anna feel like her husband…
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Minor Characters
Zack and Briony
Zack and Briony Watts are the energetic children of Alan and Bette. During the bushfire that threatens their home in Garra Nalla, the children follow their father down to the beach, where they're almost swept away by the tides.
