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Illustrated portrait of Sandy Reid

A character in The Charioteer

Sandy Reid

Alec's expressive partner, whose courage proves Laurie's first judgment of him shallow and incomplete.

The book

Cover of The Charioteer by Mary Renault
The CharioteerMary Renault, 1953

A wounded soldier must choose between different kinds of love in a world where neither can be public.

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Who they are in the book

Spoiler-free

Sandy is a pale, fine-featured trainee doctor and Alec's partner. He wants emotional security and can become theatrical when threatened.

Laurie's contempt for his manner exposes Laurie's own assumptions about acceptable gay masculinity; Sandy later demonstrates courage.

How the book draws them

Appearance, manner, and tone — as the book sketches them, in our words.

  • AppearanceHe is pale and fine-featured, with light eyelashes.
  • DressNeat civilian or medical clothes suit his careful presentation.
  • GestureHis expressiveness is easy for Laurie to misread as fragility.
  • CourageWartime danger complicates the first impression.
Sandy's later roleHow the book leaves them, what happened after, and what the record says. Open when you're ready.

He remains with Alec and shows that Laurie's early judgment was incomplete.

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