The story is mainly about North Woods and not just the humans who lived in it. Generations of humans used to live in North Woods and perished tragically, while the Woods persisted to thrive.
Here’s the A to Z of important characters in the novel.
A is for Anastasia Rossi, a psychic, who heard Osgood’s voice asking Mr and Mrs Farnsworth, what they have done with his apple trees.
A is also for Alice, the romantic twin sister of Mary Osgood, who fell for George Carter.
B
C is for William Teale’s wife, named Clara.
D is for Daniel Mason, the author.
E stands for Edith Simmons, the real name of Anastasia.
F is for Mr and Mrs Farnsworth, who hired Anastasia, to get a message from the ghost haunting their house in North Woods.
F is also for floorboards, which the Osgood sisters used to store some kitchen goods under. This secret hiding place eventually
G stands for George Carter, the childhood friend of Mary and Alice Osgood. He returns to have a one off dalliance with Alice. He left for Boston without personally saying good bye to Alice.
H
I
J
K is for Kathleen, the wife of Erasmus Nash, a writer whom William Teale was writing letters to.
L is for Lillian, the mother of Robert S. She tried to seduce the doctor who was going to treat her son Robert.
L is also for letters, which William Teale and Erasmus Nash were corresponding to each other.
M stands for Mary, the other half of the twins. Mary and Alice are the twin daughters of the original farmer who started Osgood Wonder apple orchard. M is the practical, no nonsense twin.
N is for Nash, ie, Erasmus Nash, who WHT, a resident of North Woods, was writing letters to.
O is Osgood, the Osgood Wonder apple.
P
Q
R stands for Robert S., Lillian’s son, who has mental illness.
S is for sheep. The Osgood sisters started rearing sheep, when the climate change rendered cold weathers which were bad for the apple orchard.
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z