Darger Cast of Characters

08 Daisy Gertrude Vivian

Daisy Gertrude Vivian

07 Catherine Cecilia Vivian

Catherine Clestine Vivian

06 Hettie Annie Vivian

Hettie Annie Vivian

05 Angeline Celestine Vivian Copy

Evangeline Celestine Vivian

02 Violet Mary Vivian

Violet Mary Vivian

04a Darger Joyce copy

Joice Catherine Vivian

10 Henry Darger Five Generals detail featuring Robert Hanson Vivian watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on cardboard 39 4x27 3 cm 2 copy

Robert Angelic Vivian 

10 Henry Darger Five Generals detail featuring Robert Hanson Vivian watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on cardboard 39 4x27 3 cm 2

Hanson Angelic Vivian 

13 Henry Darger General Germaine Vivian General Jimmie Vivian detail 2 pencil and watercolor 29 2x40 6 cm copy

Jimmie Ambrose Vivian 

15 Henry Darger General Germania Vivian modified newspaper photograph 29 2x21 cm

Germania Prancratius Vivian 

16a Henry Darger Untitled Concentian Aronburg detail collage and mixed media 40 6x28 cm

Concentinian Aronburg

01 Annabelle Aronburg Vivian

Annie Aronburg

09a Darger Anna Aronburg copy

Angelinia Aronburg

Thomas Phellinia Tamerline

Thomas Phellinia Tamerline 

18 Darger Manley copy

John Manley

11a Henry Darger Jack Evans pencil and watercolor 24 4x20 3 cm copy 2

Jack Ambrose Evans 

03 Jennie Francis Vivian

Jennie Francis Vivian

12 Penrodandhissistersareawfullyhardonadoublecrossingcoward Heranawaydesertingthemintimeofdanger Graphitewatercolorcarbontracingonpaper19

Marco Schoefield Penrod 

Intuit Art Museum Henry Darger Portrait

Captian [Sic] Henry Joseph Darger

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7, is the youngest sister and is referred to as the ​“wildcat,” as she can perform dangerous stunts. 

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Daisy Bell Gertrude Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier

7, is renowned for shooting the supreme Glandelinian military leader, General John Manley, right between the eyes.


Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Catherine Cecilia Vivian, n.d. Mixed media on paper. Collection unknown 

8, born on Dec. 31, is described so as to reinforce the group nature of the siblings: They…”all stick it out together as adamant as bulldogs.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Genevieve Annie Vivian (Hettie) (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier 

9, is considered the ​”brainy” sister, who often shares words of wisdom. She was injured and had to learn to walk again.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Angeline Celistine Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier 

9 ½, is the most prominent of the seven warrior princesses. Like her sisters, she’s revered as a living saint by the Christian nations in In the Realms of the Unreal. 

Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Violet Mary and Joice Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier 
 

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10, is another of the older and taller sisters. Her most notable achievement in the war effort was her killing of enemy Glandelinian King Procile.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Violet Mary and Joice Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier 

The father of the Vivian girls and governor (later, emperor) of Abbieannia. He is described as tall with black hair and a beard.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Five Generals (detail), n.d. Watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on cardboard. Collection of Collection de L’Art Brut, Lausanne, Switzerland 

Robert’s brother and is the main adult hero in In the Realms of the Unreal. He serves as the supreme Abbieannian general among all the Christian forces.


Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Five Generals (detail), n.d. Watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on cardboard. Collection de l‘Art Brut, Lausanne, Switzerland

One of the Vivian girls’ brothers. A Christian general, he’s described as a powerful man in character and presence.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). General Germaine Vivian–General Jimmie Vivian (detail), n.d. Pencil and watercolor. Collection unknown 

The Vivian girls’ third brother, who became a traitor to his family and the Christian cause by joining the Glandelinian forces.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). General Germania Vivian (detail), mid 20th century. Mixed media. Collection of Zach and Laura Williams 

The Aronburg girls’ father but is sometimes identified as their uncle. Darger describes Concentinian as ​”saintly” and”the greatest hero”of the war.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Untitled (Concentinian Aronburg) (detail), n.d. Collage and mixed media. Collection unknown 

10, led the first child-slave labor rebellion and became a martyr to its cause. Her assassination inspired the Vivian sisters to free the child slaves of Calverinia.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Annabelle Aronburg Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier

12, is a notable warrior. She has many adventures of her own within the epic novel and becomes an honorary sister to the Vivian princesses. 

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Untitled (Angelina Aronburg), n.d. Mixed media on paper. Collection unknown 

The governor of Calverinia and Annie Aronburg’s assassin. His character is based upon a roommate Darger had at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). 12 At Jennie Richee. They refuse to tell where they hid captured plans to general Phellinea Tamerline (detail), c.1940–50. Watercolor, pencil and carbon tracing on modified found image. Collection of Tim Garvey 

The highest-ranking general in the Glandelinian army. Described as ​”Godless,” he is a leading force for evil. His name originates from a hot-tempered boy Darger knew growing up.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). General John Manley (detail), n.d. Mixed media. Collection unknown

The princesses’ official guardian and, as is discovered, their long-lost uncle. He’s a champion prizefighter, wrestler, swimmer, horseback rider and sharpshooter.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Jack Evans (detail), n.d. Pencil and watercolor. Collection unknown 

10, is one of the older and taller sisters and is described as the bravest and most beautiful.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Jennie Francis Vivian (detail), c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper. Collection of Robert A. Roth. Photo © John Faier

The most significant boy character. He was stolen as a child and wound up in Calverinia. Later, he’s revealed to be the Vivian sisters’ long-lost brother.

Image credit: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Penrod and his sisters are awfully hard on double crossing coward. He ran away deserting them in a time of danger (detail), c. 1930–40. Graphite, watercolor and carbon tracing on paper. Image from Henry Darger: In the Realms of the Unreal by John MacGregor, p. 263, and attributed there to the collection of Sam and Betsey Farber. 

is the author’s fictitious alter-ego: a tall, stern-looking man with a Herculean build. Along with his friend William Schloeder he serves as a president of the Gemini. 

Image credit: Photograph of Henry Darger by David Berglund