Piccadilly Jim

An American caricaturist known as Piccadilly Jim, he is charming, witty, and impulsive. He moves through London's high society with ease, using humor and art to navigate romantic and social obstacles. His schemes to win Ann involve disguises and bold moves, but the truth about his feelings finally surfaces on the voyage home.

Bayliss is Jim's impeccable, loyal valet who keeps him out of trouble and helps execute the disguises. He’s fastidious, perceptive, and a steady presence in the Pett chaos. His instincts provide a practical counterbalance to Jim's flamboyant schemes.

Nesta Pett is a sharp-tongued socialite who distrusts James's sincerity and finances. She fiercely protects her niece Ann and resents the attention Jim attracts. Her vanity and insistence on propriety drive much of the friction in the story.

Ann Chester is Nesta Pett's niece, a poised young woman torn between social expectations and true affection. She is initially betrothed to Freddie Priory, but her feelings shift when Jim reveals his affection. She values honesty and romance, and her choices push Jim toward genuine self-discovery.

Eugenia Willis is Nesta Pett's sister, a formidable figure in their social circle who questions James's sincerity and finances. She is wary of the match between Jim and her sister's niece, guarding family interests. Her skepticism adds friction to the courtship and social games.

James Crocker, Sr. is Jim's Shakespeare-loving actor father, described as a ham by others. He assumes the persona of the Danish Count Olav Osric to impress Eugenia and to flirt with social respectability. His antics unleash a chain of deceptions that drive the plot.

Lord Freddie Priory is Ann's aristocratic fiancé, confident and conventional. He becomes the target of Jim's schemes, though his status may hide vulnerabilities. He represents the traditional upper-class ideal against which Jim must compete.

Ogden Pett is Nesta and Herbert's son, a child whose image features in Jim's popular comic strip. He embodies the Pett family's social world and serves as a subject for the strip's satire.

Pett's Butler is the household servant who helps frame the Pett family's world and appears in the cast. He embodies the service class perspective in the social satire.