Jessica Mitford

Jessica Mitford is the author and the main character of the book. Her family moved to Swinbrook House in Cotswold when she was nine. She is one of seven children of a a wealthy upper class family whose father is a member of the House of Lords. Jessica, who is nicknamed Decca, becomes aware of the poverty of the villagers at an early age, which bothers her. Most of her early education is at Swinbrook until she and Debo are sent to school at Oakdale. Jessica loved it for the few months they are there, but Debo hated it, so the girls had to return home to Swinbrook. She spent the traditional year abroad in Paris with her cousin Idden while developing her left wing beliefs.

Her second cousin is Esmond Romilly, who, along with his brother Giles, creates a stir over their left-wing views. Jessica's own...