Born at the turn of the 20th century in the Dublin slums, Henry is an unusually large and healthy child who exhibits exceptional brightness. Named after his deceased older brother, he struggles with a profound sense of illegitimacy and searches for his own place in the world. His fierce drive for survival pulls him onto the Dublin streets and eventually into the turbulent ranks of the Irish independence movement.

A mysterious, one-legged man originally from Sligo who makes his living in Dublin as a brothel bouncer and hitman. He invents numerous stories about how he lost his leg and hides the darker aspects of his work from his family. Burdened by guilt over his infants' deaths, he slowly drifts away from domestic life.

A mysterious and elusive criminal mastermind who pulls the strings of Dublin's underworld. He prefers to keep his own hands clean, relying on desperately poor men to execute his violent directives. He holds significant sway over the neighborhood and represents the invisible, oppressive hierarchies governing the city.

An intensely passionate and radically minded schoolteacher who strongly believes in education and freedom. Sixteen years Henry's senior, she refuses to accept the passive roles assigned to women in Irish society. She actively seeks to join the armed struggle for independence, challenging the conservative expectations of both the British and her fellow Republicans.

A real-life historical figure presented as a charismatic and strategic leader of the Irish independence movement who occasionally displays a boorish attitude. He operates with a mix of ingenious military planning and rowdy, boyish energy. He commands immense respect but is entirely willing to test, bully, and use the men under his command to achieve a free Ireland.

A young working-class woman born in the Dublin slums who marries at sixteen. Ground down by grinding poverty, successive evictions, and the loss of multiple infants, she becomes prematurely aged and detached from her living family. She finds solace in gin and nostalgic fantasies about the children she has lost.

Melody's eccentric mother who operates from the margins of the Dublin slums. Despite smelling of rotting meat and herrings, she is surprisingly well-read and maintains a vast library of classic texts. She acts as a shrewd observer of local power dynamics and a purveyor of crucial information.

A powerful businesswoman who operates the largest brothel in a deprived area of Dublin. Outwardly a symbol of exaggerated sexuality with a wig and heavy makeup, she is a shrewd manager who anticipates incoming ships and races to maximize profits. She hides deep trauma behind a calculating exterior.

A pragmatic and survival-driven young woman who believes herself to be the widow of a World War I soldier. She is sexually voracious and constantly looking for ways to improve her precarious situation, harboring dreams of immigrating to America. She adapts quickly to the changing political environment to ensure her security.

A former architect with soft hands who operates as a smooth-talking Republican agent. He possesses a talent for flattery and composing ballads, using his charm to recruit working-class men into the independence movement. He views the revolution in abstract, structural terms, prioritizing the political endgame over the lives of his foot soldiers.

Miss O'Shea's cousin who transforms from an eager rural volunteer into a menacing, power-hungry local warlord. As the revolution progresses, he adopts the exploitative habits of the old British colonizers, using the Republican cause to consolidate his own wealth and dominance over his community.

Henry's little brother, born into the squalor of the Dublin slums. He becomes Henry's constant shadow and partner in survival, roaming the streets, scrounging for food, and seeking out brief moments of education. His fragile health takes a heavy toll during their time living rough.

A real-life historical figure and leading martyr of the Easter Rising. He serves as a noble and literate commander for the rebels, taking the time to help Henry read the Proclamation of Independence while the fighting surrounds them.

A Latvian Jew living in Ireland who becomes a target of the Irish Republican Army. His inclusion on the hit list sparks deep doubt in Henry regarding the true, often xenophobic motives of the Republican leadership.