| 100% | SMIKE | 5 | Friend of the title character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 97% | SMIKE | 5 | Close friend of the title character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 64% | SMIKE | 5 | Disabled character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 64% | SMIKE | 5 | Unwell character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 64% | SMIKE | 5 | Crippled character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 55% | SQUEERS | 7 | Wackford —, headmaster of Dotheboys Hall in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 55% | SMIKE | 5 | Maltreated servant boy in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 55% | SMIKE | 5 | Crippled character in the Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 53% | SMIKE | 5 | Crippled character in 1839 Charles Dickens book Nicholas Nickleby |
| 52% | SMIKE | 5 | Frail young character in 1839 Charles Dickens’ book Nicholas Nickleby |
| 52% | AMYDORRIT | 9 | Title character of an 1857 novel by Charles Dickens born and raised in the Marshalsea debtors' prison |
| 48% | SMIKE | 5 | Perpetually ill character in Charles Dickens' 1839 novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 45% | JOSEPHCOTTEN | 12 | Actor who played a reporter and friend of the title character in 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 44% | GAMP | 4 | Sarah —, character in 1844 Charles Dickens novel The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit noted for her large umbrella |
| 44% | VERISOPHT | 9 | Lord Frederick —, character in Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby killed by Sir Mulberry Hawk in a duel |
| 42% | UNCAS | 5 | Title character in the J F Cooper novel The Last of the Mohicans |
| 42% | UNCAS | 5 | Title character in 1826 J F Cooper novel The Last of the Mohicans |
| 41% | LITTLEDORRIT | 12 | Charles Dickens novel published in book form in 1857 featuring the character Arthur Clennam |
| 40% | WILFER | 6 | Bella —, character in 1865 Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend who marries John Rokesmith |
| 39% | WEGG | 4 | Silas —, one-legged character in the Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend |
| 39% | HAN | 3 | First name of the title character in "Solo" |
| 39% | DONN | 4 | Arabella —, wife of the title character in 1895 Thomas Hardy novel Jude the Obscure |
| 38% | NED | 3 | Boyfriend of the title character in "The Nancy Drew Files" |
| 38% | JAY | 3 | First name of the title character in "The Great Gatsby" |
| 38% | KROOK | 5 | Character in the Charles Dickens novel Bleak House who dies from spontaneous human combustion |
| 38% | WEGG | 4 | Silas —, one-legged character in 1865 Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend |
| 37% | ASLAN | 5 | One of the title characters in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" |