A-to-Z Character Guide for Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
Walter Berglund
Husband of Patty; father of Jessica and Joey; best friend and college roommate of Richard Katz
Patty Berglund
Wife of Walter; mother of Jessica and Joey; daughter of Ray and Joyce Emerson
Jessica Berglund
Sister of Joey; oldest child of Patty and Walter
Joey Berglund
Brother of Jessica; youngest child of Patty and Walter
CHARACTERS (ALPHABETICALLY)
Abigail Emerson
Sister of Patty and Veronica; actress
Blake
Carol Monaghan's boyfriend
Brent Berglund
Youngest brother of Walter; in the military
Carol Monaghan
The Berglunds' next-door neighbor in St. Paul, Minnesota; single mother of Connie
Casey
Hall mate of Joey's at Charlottesville
Connie Monaghan
The Berglunds' next-door neighbor in St. Paul, Minnesota; daughter of Carol
Coyle Mathis
Forster Hollow landowner in Wyoming County, West Virginia
Edgar Emerson
Brother of Patty, Veronica and Abigail
Eliza
Best friend of Patty in college
Dorothy Berglund
Wife of Gene; mother of Walter
Galina Emerson
Wife of Edgar
Gene Berglund
Husband of Dorothy; father of Walter
Howard
Father of Jonathan and Jenna; husband of Tamara; founder and luminary president of a conservative think tank
Jenna
Older sister of Jonathan
Jocelyn Zorn
Environmental activist
Jonathan
Roommate of Joey's at Charlottesville from NoVa (Northern Virginia)
Joyce Emerson
Wife of Ray; mother of Patty; state assemblywoman
Kenny Bartles
Boss of Joey at RISEN (Restore Iraqi Secular Enterprise Now)
Lalitha
Assistant to Walter Berglund
Linda Hoffbauer
Walter's neighbor in Canterbridge Estates
Merrie Paulsen
Neighbor of the Berglunds on Barrier Street in St. Paul, Minnesota; wife of Seth
Mitch Berglund
Older brother of Walter
Ray Emerson
Husband of Joyce; father of Patty; a lawyer
Richard Katz
Musician; best friend and college roommate of Walter
Seth Paulsen
Neighbor of the Berglunds on Barrier Street in St. Paul, Minnesota; married to Merrie
Tamara
Mother of Jonathan and Jenna; wife of Howard
Veronica
Youngest sister of Patty and Abigail
Vin Haven
Boss of Walter Berglund; megamillionaire and founder of Cerulean Mountain Trust
Zachary
Son of one of Richard Katz's clients; high school senior; hipster-in-training