Michael Karlinoff is a member of The Gang. Reserved, aloof, and beautiful, he is considered by most of the school to be the perfect complement to his girlfriend Lillian Budd. Michael is a dark presence whose background is a mystery to most of his fellow students at Beaumonde Academy. Father: Nicolaus Karlinoff Michael is the newest member of The Gang, having transferred to Beaumonde at the beginning of sophomore year. His arrival at the school created a sensation among the underclassmen: gorgeous and impeccably dressed, Michael seemed to be not just "a student of Proper, or even an enthusiast, but rather the living embodiment of it." Alexander and Lillian Budd were particularly intrigued by his arrival, and stunned when he initially rebuffed their invitations to join The Gang. Almost nothing is known about Michael Karlinoff or his life before coming to Beaumonde. All that's known for sure is that he moved to New Orleans from Macedonia at a very young age, and was raised in seclusion in their Uptown home and educated by private tutors. Nicolaus Karlinoff, Michael's father, is said to be very strict and will rarely allow his son to go anywhere but school and back home. Michael's family must be wealthy for him to attend Beaumonde; however, exactly how Nicolaus Karlinoff made that wealth is a topic of frequent debate at the school: Even among his fellow Gangmembers, Michael's wardrobe is exceptional. We're told that his clothes are impeccably made--clearly the work of a master tailor--and are cut in subtly unique ways that no one, not even Alexander, had seen before. Also remarkable are Michaels' devastating good looks. Thanks to a combination of good nutrition, good genetics, and costly salon treatments, most Beaumonde students are fairly attractive, but Michael seems to stand above those elevated standards. His appearance is remarked upon many times during the novel. Some readers have pointed out that the main female characters of The Darling Budds include "one of the cutest girls in school," a tall modelesque beauty, a sexy and curvaceous flirt, and an incredibly toned and fit runner; yet it's Michael, a boy, who is consistently objectified because of his looks. [citation needed] Michael and his father live far Uptown, near Tulane University, in a large two-story stone building. FURTHER READING The original prologue includes quite a bit of information about Michael's appearance at Beaumonde, the effect Michael had on the twins and the rest of the school, and his entry into The Gang. More information about Michael can also be found in chapter 16. |
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Michael Karlinoff |