Helen is a British historian specializing in 17th-century Jewish history. Approaching mandatory retirement at her university, she is a reserved and ambitious academic who guards her emotions closely. Helen manages a recent Parkinson's disease diagnosis, which adds urgency to her desire to appraise the newly discovered historical documents.

Aaron is a young American graduate student studying at a university in London. He lacks direction while struggling with his dissertation on Shakespeare's connection to the early modern Jewish community. Aaron can be self-indulgent and melancholic, particularly concerning his recent romantic history, but he possesses a genuine passion for historical discovery.

Ester is a young Portuguese Jewish woman who grew up in Amsterdam before relocating to London. Orphaned at a young age, she is highly intelligent and possesses an intense passion for reading and learning. She works as a scribe for a blind rabbi, a highly unusual role for a woman in her era, and values her intellectual freedom over conventional societal expectations.

Rabbi Mendes is a respected, scholarly leader within the 17th-century Jewish community. He was blinded as a boy during the Spanish Inquisition before fleeing to Amsterdam and eventually settling in London. He is devout and compassionate, relying heavily on a scribe to document his theological correspondence and philosophical teachings.

Ian is a former student of Helen Watt who currently owns a historical house in Richmond. While renovating the property, his contractors uncover a cache of 17th-century papers. He wants the documents appraised quickly so construction can continue without further delays.

Bridgette is Ian Easton's wife, who inherited the historical Richmond property from her aunt. She is eager to dispose of the old documents to proceed with her house renovations. She frequently interacts with Aaron while he works in her home.

Marisa is an American student who met Aaron in a Hebrew language class in London. She recently relocated to Israel to continue studying the language. She maintains an ambivalent correspondence with Aaron, often finding him somewhat naive and self-centered.

Dror is an Israeli man who works in intelligence. He met Helen when she volunteered on an army base in the 1950s. Dror carries a deep sense of the historical tragedy of the Jewish people, which creates tension in his relationships.

Rivka is the frugal and hard-working housekeeper for Rabbi Mendes. She performs the majority of the domestic chores so that Ester is free to work as the rabbi's scribe. Rivka embraces a life of quiet sacrifice and maintains the daily functioning of the home.

Isaac is Ester's rebellious brother. After accidentally starting a fire in Amsterdam that killed their parents, he grows bitter and alienated. He eventually abandons his post as Rabbi Mendes's scribe, leaving the position open for his sister.

Diego is Rabbi Mendes's wealthy nephew who lives in London. He invited his uncle to the city to help reestablish an active Jewish community and provide scholarly leadership to the local population.

Catherine is Diego's wife and Mary's mother. As a sickly woman, she is unable to chaperone her daughter on excursions around London, leading her to hire Ester to keep Mary safe during her social outings.

Mary is the daughter of Diego and Catherine. She is eager to explore London's vibrant social scene following the end of Puritan rule. She is flirtatious, emotionally expressive, and focused on finding suitors, contrasting sharply with Ester's intellectual seriousness.

Manuel is the son of a wealthy London Jewish merchant. He is intrigued by Ester's assertiveness and frequently attempts to court her. He believes he can tame her rebellious nature and integrate her into a traditional domestic life.

Alvaro is Manuel's brother, a kind but troubled young man studying under Rabbi Mendes. He feels cursed to a life of unhappiness due to the rigid social strictures of his community and the demands of his traditional family.

Benjamin is a wealthy London Jewish merchant and the father of Manuel and Alvaro. He owns a grand home in Richmond and expects strict adherence to social norms from his family, often acting harshly when defied.

Constantina is Ester's late mother, a famously beautiful woman who challenged traditional Jewish beliefs in Amsterdam. Her frustration with conservative orthodoxy deeply shaped Ester's own worldview before she died in a tragic fire.

Lizabeta is Ester's grandmother, a Portuguese Jewish woman who defied social conventions. Her past actions in England inform her family's cautious and complex relationship with desire, assimilation, and secrecy.

Thomas is an English actor working in London. He is charming and quickly catches Mary's attention, though he appears more interested in her family's wealth than in forming a genuine emotional connection with her.

John is an English actor and friend of Thomas Farrow. Unlike his companions, he treats Mary and Ester with respect and engages Ester in intellectual discussions, prompting her to experience a rare sense of romantic curiosity.

Bescos is an English acquaintance of Thomas and John. He is frequently rude to Mary and Ester and harbors strong prejudices against them, making their social interactions tense.

Spinoza is a controversial Dutch philosopher who was formally excommunicated from the Jewish community in 1656 for his radical ideas about God and nature. He is a former student of Rabbi Mendes and a figure of intense intellectual fascination for Ester.

Franciscus van den Enden is a philosopher and former Jesuit priest based in Amsterdam. He teaches and corresponds with controversial thinkers across Europe, encouraging radical intellectual exploration.

Wilton is a rival academic scholar studying the Richmond documents. His quick progress and large research team present a constant professional threat to Helen and Aaron's own archival efforts.

Darcy is a colleague of Helen Watt at the university. He supervises Aaron Levy's doctoral research and connects his struggling student with Helen's urgent archival project.

Menasseh ben Israel is a prominent rabbi and leader in the Dutch Jewish community who briefly lives in London. He cautiously attempts to establish a recognized Jewish community in England before returning to Amsterdam following a personal tragedy.

Rabbi Sasportas is a highly influential rabbi who gains significant power within the London Jewish community. He urges his followers to adopt a more conservative and severe approach to their faith, directly challenging the more tolerant teachings of his predecessors.