blood dried, they became the best of friends. Bea's father and brother are very protective of her, and she has been for several years engaged to marry an army officer, a staunch upholder of the Francoist State. In the climax, she marries Daniel and becomes the mother of Julián Sempere. Don Gustavo Barceló – Friend of Daniel and his father. An older man who is a book lover and buyer. He originally offers to buy "The Shadow of the Wind" from Daniel, who declines his offer. Clara Barceló – Niece of the wealthy Don Gustavo Barceló, very beautiful, yet blind. For several years, the young Daniel comes to her uncle's house to sit and read with her. He develops a schoolboy crush on her even though she is ten years his senior, but tries to forget her once he discovers her in a compromising position with her piano instructor. Julián Carax – The author of The Shadow of the Wind. Daniel desperately seeks to find out the truth about this mysterious man: the reasons for his journeys, the truth about his childhood, and the explanation for why his books are all being destroyed. Julián falls in love with Penélope at first sight. Their love affair, however, has been doomed since the beginning, because, unknown to them, they are half-brother and sister. After being caught by her parents making love to Penélope, he flees to Paris. After the deaths of Penélope and their son, David, he writes a series of books and eventually disappears without a trace. Francisco Javier Fumero – The main antagonist. An odd schoolboy friend of Julián Carax who grows up to be a corrupt and murderous police inspector. Miquel Moliner – A schoolboy friend of Julián Carax, fun-loving and loyal. So much so, in fact, that he sacrifices his own life for Julián's. Father Fernando Ramos – A schoolboy friend of Julián Carax who later becomes a priest at their old school. He assists Daniel in his quest for the truth about Julián. Jorge Aldaya – A schoolboy friend of Julián Carax, sometimes rather moody, very wealthy. He is Penélope's older brother, and also Julián's half-brother by their father. He dies in Paris in 1936. Penélope Aldaya – An ethereal beauty, devoid of anything worldly, she is described as an angel of light. She and Julián fall in love with each other at first sight. It is