James Winterwood
Sir James Winterwood is a fictional English traveller, adventurer and writer in the second half of the 19th century and a recurring character of the Brazilian writer Rita Maria Felix da Silva. He was introduced in the short story San Juan Romero.
In the stories, James travelled around the world collecting "curious facts" to use in his books. More frequently than he would like, these facts turned out to be supernatural.
During his adventures, James found the dark secret about a Mexican village; he was involved in the strange contend between Lord Douglas Whitehill and the bizarre Skykeeper and, by dreams, travelled to Earth's past and knew Mareish-Loh. At another moment, he had a dangerous meeting with the Egyptian mythological monster called "the Ammut". He was in Brazil, and in Portugal, when he involuntarily participated in Jose Fagundo de Solemar's plans, a sorcerer of Coimbra.
Four important features define James Winterwood:
1. A melancholic temperament.
2. An extraordinary memory. Since he accumulated a plenty of painful memories during his life, James practiced memory-blockage, using a technique he learned from an African shaman.
3. A heart probably sapient that works as his conscience, "talking" to him and advising him. In the 21st century, Sam Winterwood, of who James was ancestor, had a heart like him.
4. His desire that his books can make his name immortal.
Other Winterwoods
Later, other short stories written by Rita Maria Felix da Silva showed James Winterwood as a probable ancestor of the following characters:1. Nora Winterwood. Nora was Neil's niece and Jacob's cousin. She is cited by Jacob in the epilogue of "Khen-Zur".
2. Sam Winterwood
3. Neil Winterwood, who is cited in "O Segredo de Chica"/Chica's Secret," a quote from Neil Winterwood in "Comentário Sangüíneo". In this quote, Neil defines the term "bela arte noturna", a reference to vampirical conditions/practices in opposition to human condition.
4. Jacob Winterwood. Jacob was Neil's nephew and Nora's cousin.