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Fictional Characters, Red Heads, in Literature
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Admittedly I had originally intended to only list 'childrens books' in these fictional characters pages....BUT then readers began sending in other redhead characters they found in books they've read!! I realized not all of these were necessarily books appropriate for younger teens or children, so I decided to post a "Mature Readers" book list since many teen and adult readers visit the site as well.
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | Twilight Saga very successful vampire romance series by American author Stephanie Meyer. The story features the love story / love triangle between the fictional characters of copper/reddish/bronze-haired teenage vampire Edward Cullen and his beautiful young 'Bella' and handsome rival 'Jacob.' The series has been made into film, and British actor Robert Pattinson plays the role of Edward (see my "Famous Actors" page) |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. The main fictional character is a young architect, Howard Roark. Ayn says of him: "Roark has bright orange hair and an angled, muscular body. Not particularly attractive...has self-confidence." The story follows his struggle to follow his dream of modern architecture, breaking away from tradition. Probably adult reading (??) as I have not read it myself yet. This was one of her best-selling books, later being made into the black and white 1949 movie 'The Fountainhead' starring Gary Cooper as Roark. |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | Outlander by author Diana Gabaldon. This is the name of the first book in her series of romance, historical novels. They are set in Scotland during the 18th and 20th centuries (involves time travel, believe it or not) and focus on the very manly young redhead Scottish fictional character Jamie Fraser and his lovely Claire Randall. (Caution: some adult themes, as is a romance novel). Was awarded the RITA Award for for "Best romance novel" in 1991. (Thanks to Lynne) |
 | Die Rote ('The Redhead') novel by German author Alfred Andersch, 1960. Main character is an unhappy redhead named Ruth Lewerik. Was apparently made into a film by director Helmut Kautner and starring Rossano Brazzi, released in 1960s as 'The Redhead' (La Rossa, Die Rote) (Assume novel is for mature readers??, as deals with moral, political, and free will issues in his works.) |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | The Name of the Wind popular fantasy novel by American author Patrick Rothfuss, part of the projected Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy. Book is darker than "Harry Potter" books, and thus NOT for children or preteens because of adult fiction, intense action. Kvothe is the redhead fictional character who is an orphan, musician, adventurer, and gifted wizard who voices his own story. -- "My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." ...The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree. 'The Flame' is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire." (Thanks to Erana!) |
| Portrait of A Man With Red Hair by Sir Hugh Walpole. In this macabre novel, Crispin is the main character, an unstable large chubby man with very red hair and pale skin. He says of himself: "The colour of my hair has been a barrier. I realise that I am, and always have been, absurd in appearance, and from the very earliest age I was aware that I was different from other human beings and must pursue another course from theirs. I make no complaint about that, but it justifies, I think, my later conduct." He says of his father: "He liked to torment and tease me, as indeed did everyone else. I went to Westminster School, and they all mocked me, my hair, my body, my difference...And I was glad that I was different. I hugged my difference." -- Unfortunately, he's a bit mad. A macabre sad tale..not something I'd recommended for reading really. |
 | Sin is a Redhead by "Steve Harragan", who also happens to be the main character in this thriller/detective genre book (amateur detective, former crime reporter). In New York City, he happens to meet a gorgeous redhead Flame Tilson, who of course is 'bad.' Reviews not great. Apparently, this book title is a reprint of Redhead Rhapsody, a British novel later published in the US (around 1950s), whose author/character was "Bart Carson." |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | The Vampire Chronicles a series of successful novels by American author Anne Rice. Notable redheads mentioned in her books include main fictional character Armand (a young boy with reddish curls), Jessica Reeves (red hair and green eyes), and twin sisters Maharet and Mekare (curly red hair and green eyes). Her books have been made into films, such as the 1994 movie 'Interview With the Vampire.' (Thanks to Bodhi!) |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | The Thorn Birds by Australian author Colleen McCullough in 1977. It was later made into a hit TV miniseries in 1983, although not all red-haired characters in the book were portrayed as such in the movie. Redheads include the main character Meghann "Meggie" Cleary; the Irish father Padraic "Paddy" Cleary (with 'aggressive red hair'); brothers Jack, Hughie, and (twins) James & Patrick Cleary; Mary Carson (Paddy's older rich sister); and Justine O'Neill (Meggie's daughter). The bestselling fictional novel portrays the hard life in the Australian outback, focusing on the Cleary family over 5 decades. (Thanks to Amanda!) |
 | Blue Heaven Black Night by Shannon Drake. This sweeping romance novel has a fictional character with fiery red hair named Elsie who is the illegitimate daughter of King Henry. The book is filled with info on historical figures, Crusades, and details of medieval life, and favorite for some romance novel fans. (Thanks to Martk!) |
 (Barnes&Noble.com) | Millennium Trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson (who died in 2004). The heroine, Lisbeth Salander, is a redhead but dyes her hair black in this award-winning series, first appearing in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Larsson imagined this 20-something fictional character to be sort of a 'Pippi Longstocking' who is dysfunctional with ADHD yet intelligent with an amazing memory. Affected by early life experiences, Larsson used his writing to take action to help stop violence against women. Originally written in Swedish, the mystery books are for adult reading and NOT for youngsters or teens due to some brutal and graphic scenes, which you can skim over if you must; many readers say continue to the end as worth the read. (Thanks to Zack!) |
| The Ulster Cycle (Irish: an Rúraíocht) or called "Red Branch Cycle" -- One of the 4 cycles of Irish mythology, written in Old and Middle Irish. The most prominent hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew, Cú Chulainn (Irish for "Culann's Hound" - he's renamed after killing Culann's fierce hound.) Descriptions of this fictional character's appearance vary, & here's one of the most elaborate: [Thomas Kinsella, "The Táin," Oxford University Press, 1969] - "You would think he had three distinct heads of hair – brown at the base, blood-red in the middle, and a crown of golden yellow. This hair was settled strikingly into three coils on the cleft at the back of his head. Each long loose-flowing strand hung down in shining splendour over his shoulders, deep-gold and beautiful and fine as a thread of gold. A hundred neat red-gold curls shone darkly on his neck..." (Thanks to Mary!) |
| Tiger Men an adult fiction novel by Australian actress-turned-author Judy Nunn (she played Ailsa Stewart in the Australian TV drama 'Home And Away.') Set in Tasmania, the novel follows 3 families over several generations during the 1800s and includes some feisty characters. Redheads include Eileen "Red" Hilditch and her daughter Shauna.(Thanks to Kate!) |
 | Redhead a sci-fi supernatural thriller by British author Ian Cook. The story weaves worldwide folklore about red hair and ancient history, beginning in 1920s and moves forward to the present. There’s even a flame-haired journalist, Rebecca, as a lead character in the story as she investigates macabre events directed at redheads worldwide. Inspired by Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," the cliffhanger should appeal to fans of supernatural science fiction, to redheads, and/or their admirers. (Read my interview with author, Ian Cook!) |
If you have any other redhead Fictional Characters to add, let me know on my 'Contact Me' page!
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