Fay
Fay is the author of these letters of encouragement to her niece who wants to be an author. Fay is known in her family as an outspoken feminist, and she is a voice of reason for Alice. She encourages Alice that, if she's serious about writing a novel one day, she absolutely must read Jane Austen. She says that Jane Austen demonstrates the form of the social novel, as well as demonstrating the genius of true art.
Alice
Alice is a girl who is wild at heart. She resists convention. When Fay starts writing these letters, she says that Alice has dyed her hair black and green, defying the rules of her school. And yet, Alice is somewhat lazy. She doesn't really like to read long, difficult books, but she is full of passion and longs to be a novelist one day. Fay takes it as her goal to convince Alice to read something by Austen.
Enid
Enid is Fay's sister and Alice's mother. She believes that Fay is corrupting her child with her feminist craziness, and she doesn't understand why the women can't just be normal. In the end, Fay and Enid have tea and discuss feminism again, pleasantly, with humor. Enid is happy once her child has accomplished the great feat of becoming a well-known author.
