Teddy is a Royal Air Force bomber pilot who struggles to adapt to domestic life both before and after World War II. Initially joining the military to escape a boring career in banking, he eventually finds that the war erases his personal identity, leaving him capable only of functioning as a pilot. After the conflict, he works writing a nature column for a small Yorkshire magazine, maintaining a stoic, quiet exterior that masks severe post-traumatic stress and a deep-seated commitment to personal kindness.

Nancy is a practical, mathematically gifted woman who works in cryptology during World War II. She marries Teddy after the conflict ends, dedicating herself entirely to creating a stable domestic environment for him and their daughter. She values logic over abstract emotion and frequently attempts to soothe Teddy's wartime traumas, though she eventually harbors private medical struggles of her own to protect him from worrying.

Viola is Teddy and Nancy's daughter, an aspiring writer who grows into a successful novelist later in life. She is restless, self-pitying, and frequently feels victimized by her circumstances and relationships. Lacking maternal instincts, she drifts through a chaotic life on a commune and leaves her children to fend for themselves while viewing her traditional father with growing contempt.

Sunny is Viola's son and Teddy's grandson. As a young boy, he endures severe neglect from his mother and outright abuse from his paternal grandparents, leaving him deeply traumatized and needy. He finds his only sense of safety with his grandfather, leading him on a lifelong quest for emotional peace that eventually draws him toward Eastern spirituality.

Ursula is Teddy's sister, a thoughtful and protective sibling who works with the Official Secrets Act group during the war. She treats wounded men and understands the brutal realities of the conflict far better than the rest of their civilian family. She functions as Teddy's closest confidant, gifting him a silver hare charm to keep him safe in the skies.

Bertie is Viola's daughter, born on a rural commune and given the nickname "Moon." Unlike her restless mother, she develops a stable, reliable personality. She serves as a grounding force in her fragmented family, showing profound dedication and warmth toward her grandfather Teddy in his later years.

Izzie is Teddy's aunt, a former World War I nurse who turns her sights to writing. She authors a highly successful series of children's books under the pen name Delphie Fox, using Teddy's childhood as direct inspiration for her protagonist, Augustus. She continually interrogates Teddy for details about his life, much to his eventual irritation.

Hugh is Teddy's father. While he maintains the outward appearance of a respectable patriarch at Fox Corner, he quietly chafes against the confines of his domestic life. He harbors private temptations regarding other women in his community but generally upholds his familial duties.

Sylvie is Teddy's mother, known locally for her great beauty. She feels fundamentally trapped in her marriage to Hugh and occasionally contemplates infidelity, weeping privately over the life she feels bound to. Despite her unhappiness, she frequently hosts large gatherings at their home and openly favors Teddy over her other children.

Dominic is Viola's partner and the father of Sunny and Bertie. A painter who relies on grants and a trust fund, he struggles with bipolar disorder and heavy drug use. He moves his family to a rural commune, chasing vague ideas about cosmic evolution while failing to provide any practical care for his children.

Mrs. Villiers, known to Sunny as Grandmamma, is Dominic's mother. She resides at the dilapidated Jordan Manor and is highly focused on inheritance and class status. She is openly cruel to her grandson Sunny, forcing him into cold living conditions and refusing to use his actual name.

Lucky is a stray dog who miraculously stows away on a Halifax bomber plane during one of Teddy's missions. Teddy adopts the animal and keeps him at the barracks. The dog provides Teddy with his only safe space to express the immense grief and terror caused by the war.

Julia is a wealthy woman working as an Army truck driver in London during the war. She possesses access to unused luxury homes filled with expensive art, offering Teddy a passionate, week-long distraction from the horrors of his bombing campaigns.

Keith is a Royal Air Force crew member who serves alongside Teddy across multiple bomber units. He is a steadfast companion in the air and joins Teddy on visits to civilian society, longing for a normal life and the chance to fall in love.

Vic is a member of Teddy's bombing squadron. He endures the terrifying reality of being shot down over the ocean, relying entirely on the physical strength and quick thinking of his fellow airmen to survive the freezing waters.