English Bill Character Analysis in The Plague of Doves

English Bill is the cook Reginald Bull hires for Joseph Coutts’s ill-fated town-site expedition. Though Bill is a delight to be around, his cooking is disastrous, and his poor-tasting food contributes to the stomach cramps and hunger the men feel as they journey. Bill has a particular bond with Henri and Lafayette Peace, especially after the Peace brothers save Bill’s beloved terrier from being eaten by a wolf.

English Bill Character Timeline in The Plague of Doves

The timeline below shows where the character English Bill appears in The Plague of Doves. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Ancestry, History, and Interconnection Theme Icon

...Joseph Coutts is joined on his trip by Emil Buckendorf and a cook named English Bill. Bill also brings along his dog, a short-haired terrier. For his part, Joseph Coutts only... (full context)

Land, Ownership, and Dispossession Theme Icon

...they set out, the men reach their destination. Their food is running low, and English Bill’s terrible cooking gives all the men stomach problems. One night, the men are in such... (full context)

Lafayette saves Bill’s dog from a wolf, and Bill grows eager to help the Peace brothers however he... (full context)

At last, the men’s bad fortune comes to an end. First, Bill’s dog finds a pile of birds, frozen in the snow. Then, the dog catches a... (full context)