Archie is a 47-year-old Englishman who folds paper products for a living. He tied for 13th place in track cycling at the 1948 Olympics. He maintains a mild-mannered disposition and rarely takes a firm stand on anything. When faced with major life choices, he defers the decision to a coin flip.

Samad is a Bangladeshi immigrant working as a waiter in his cousin's Indian restaurant in London. He served in a tank unit with Archie during World War II. He fears Western culture is corrupting his family and insists on preserving his traditional heritage. He speaks constantly about his historical ancestor.

Clara is a 19-year-old Jamaican immigrant who marries Archie six weeks after they meet. Raised as a strict Jehovah's Witness, she lost her front teeth in a teenage scooter crash. She approaches her marriage with a pragmatic mindset and later enrolls in night school courses.

Alsana is Samad's fiercely practical wife. Their marriage was arranged by their families before she was even born. She works as a seamstress from her home. She prefers to hold life lightly and often physically bests her husband during their frequent domestic arguments.

Irie is the intelligent teenage daughter of Archie and Clara. She struggles with her mixed-race heritage and physical appearance, particularly her curly hair and substantial frame. She desires a more rational, open family dynamic than her parents provide.

Millat is Samad and Alsana's younger twin son. Rebellious and charismatic, he immerses himself in Western pop culture and mafia movies. He deeply resents his father's obvious preference for his brother and eventually seeks a sense of belonging in a fundamentalist group.

Magid is the elder twin son of Samad and Alsana. Unusually studious and serious from a young age, he writes letters requesting order and reason. His father sends him to Bangladesh to protect him from Western influence, but he ironically embraces secular, rationalist attitudes while overseas.

Marcus is a secular Jewish geneticist working on a project called FutureMouse. He believes entirely in scientific progress and human reason. He dismisses ethical concerns regarding his work and sometimes exhibits a patronizing attitude toward people outside his immediate intellectual circle.

Joyce is Marcus's wife and a horticulturalist who writes books about gardening. She possesses a desperate need to nurture troubled individuals. She frequently blurts out inappropriate comments while trying to sound liberal and open-minded.

Joshua is the oldest Chalfen son. Socially awkward and nerdy, he initially seeks acceptance from rebellious peers. He deeply resents the attention his parents shower on other teenagers and turns to a radical animal rights group for a sense of belonging.

Hortense is Clara's energetic Jamaican mother. A devout Jehovah's Witness, she constantly prepares for the apocalypse. She originally disowns Clara for abandoning the faith but later opens her home to her granddaughter.

Ryan is an awkward, unattractive teenager who briefly dates Clara. He converts to the Jehovah's Witness faith after meeting Hortense. He eventually rises through the church ranks and moves in with Hortense to assist her with daily life.

Neena is Alsana's outspoken, Westernized niece. She frequently argues with her aunt about traditional gender roles and serves as a pragmatic voice of reason for both the Jones and Iqbal families.

Poppy is a young, enthusiastic music teacher at Manor School. She takes a naive interest in Indian culture. Her admiration for Samad's heritage and looks leads to a brief romantic affair.

Dr. Perret is a sickly French scientist hiding in Eastern Europe. Accused of collaborating with the Nazis on eugenics, he suffers from diabetic retinopathy that makes him appear to cry red tears. He presents a severe moral test for his captors.

Mickey is the proprietor of O'Connell's Poolroom. His family emigrated from Iraq. He maintains a traditional menu and refuses to change the establishment's decor, providing a timeless refuge for his regular patrons.

Ambrosia is Hortense's mother. She became pregnant at fourteen by a lodger. Following a devastating earthquake, she converts to the Jehovah's Witness faith and dedicates herself to religion.

Durham is an English officer stationed in Jamaica. He educates his young pregnant lover in British customs. Driven by imperial pride and vengeance, he causes immense suffering for the local population by turning away relief ships.

Pande is a historical Indian soldier. He functions primarily as a symbol of history. British accounts dismiss him as an intoxicated fool, but his descendants view his actions in the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny differently.

Horst is a Swedish gynecologist who tied with Archie at the 1948 Olympics. He occasionally sends oddly prophetic letters to Archie, which Archie uses to help make decisions.

Joely is a cofounder of FATE. She uses a soft, flirtatious approach to broaden the extremist group's public appeal. She strongly resembles a younger version of Joyce Chalfen.

Crispin is a cofounder of FATE. He favors direct terror tactics and previously served time in prison for firebombing a laboratory. He dismisses those who lack total commitment to the cause.

Brother Ibrāhīm is a Muslim convert from Barbados who leads the fundamentalist group KEVIN. He delivers uninspiring speeches but successfully taps into widespread frustration among young immigrants.

Shiva is a waiter who works alongside Samad. He converts to religious fundamentalism and joins KEVIN after discovering that renouncing worldly things makes him more successful with women.

Mo is a halal butcher who interrupts Archie's suicide attempt because he lacks a license for dead bodies. He later joins KEVIN after enduring repeated racist attacks at his business.

Hifan is an old friend of Millat. He is the first in their social circle to join KEVIN, providing Millat with a direct path into the organization.

Ophelia is Archie's first wife. She is an Italian woman who goes mad from the sheer dullness of their thirty-year marriage and files for divorce.

Maxine is Neena's romantic partner. She is described as a slender woman with a beautiful porcelain face who accompanies Neena to family events.

Hamilton is an elderly veteran whom the children visit for a Harvest Festival project. He lacks teeth and tells disturbing stories about his military service in the Congo.