The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

In this section, we read some more loosely connected tales, but some stories involving our main characters are also wrapping up.

Did you have a favorite tale from this section?

We heard more about Anna, Marianne, and the former Countess Elizabeth. What did you think of these phases in their stories?

What do you think will happen at the end of the pensioners’ year?

On entering this section I thought I'd post the entire list of characters I got from Wikipedia that I use to help orient myself. I didn't post the complete list earlier in the event any of the information contained a spoiler.
The list is especially useful for early identification of Cavaliers. For instance, Chapter 26 called "The Cemetary" starts off talking about "Beerencreutz, the colonel with the white mustaches..." and I checked the list to see that he is one of the cavaliers, as are the two subsequent characters. Eventually you can figure it out in context, but the list helps.

THE SAGA OF GOSTA BERLING CHARACTER LIST
Gösta Berling - defrocked minister and chief character
Margarita Samzelius (née Celsing) - the Major's wife — in charge of Ekeby; she gives the cavaliers a place to stay
Sintram - the Evil one who only causes mischief
Marianne Sinclaire - thrown out of her parents' house for kissing Gösta
Countess Elizabeth (Karlsdotter) - from Italy, married to Count Henrik Dohna
Anna Stjärnhök - engaged to a minor character, at one time loves Gösta
Countess Marta - mother of Henrik, step-mother of Ebba, rich and haughty
Count Henrik Dohna - Elizabeth's husband, known for being 'stupid'
Ebba Dohna - Marta's step-daughter, very pious — Gösta's first love
The 12 Cavaliers - Gösta Berling, Colonel Beerencreutz, major Anders Fuchs, Little Ruster, Rutger von Orneclou, Kristian Bergh, Squire Julius, Kevenhuller, Cousin Kristoffer, Uncle Eberhard, Lovenborg, Lilliecrona

Thanks, Brian! That was one of the hardest things for me about this book - keeping track of the characters. To some extent it didn't matter much since the setting seemed to be the main character. I even had to go back and remind myself how Sintram was described at the beginning, since by the middle I'd forgotten why he was evil and why he seemed to be everywhere.

This is from a Penguin Random House Reader's Guide on The Cavaliers:

- A note on the “cavaliers”: It was customary at that time in the province of Värmland (and elsewhere in Sweden) for farms and estates to feed and house indigent, elderly individuals. More upper-class examples, often old army officers, were referred to as “cavaliers” (adventurers), who might stay for shorter or longer periods. The majoress is perhaps unusual in the scale of her hospitality for a dozen such “cavaliers.”

That's interesting, thank you!

I think the translation I read always referred to them as "pensioners."

Brian, thanks for the information. It was very helpful. I enjoyed the shorter tales in this section, especially "Lady Musica." The picture of the old man playing his imaginary piano with such skill and enjoyment was unforgettable.

I also enjoyed the shorter stories, though the lack of cohesiveness did make it harder for me to finish the book.