Scan barcode
cimorene1558's review against another edition
2.0
I'd recommend looking elsewhere, if you want a serious and thorough biography of the Mitfords. I found the regular comparisons to current popstars and media crazes rather jarring, and there seemed nothing new or particularly interesting about this version of the Mitfords' exciting times. If it's all you can get, then by all means, but there are better books in my opinion.
maryannelouise's review against another edition
1.0
I found this to be incredibly sympathetic to the fascist sisters, while being extremely critical of the sisters who were vocally against Hitler and fascism
kelbi's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a sucker for anything about the Mitfords and I enjoyed this book. At times
it was disorganised but I sympathise with the author trying to follow each girl’s very different story. The sense of privilege is sometimes uncomfortable to take in. They were rich and arrogant. But also very entertaining
it was disorganised but I sympathise with the author trying to follow each girl’s very different story. The sense of privilege is sometimes uncomfortable to take in. They were rich and arrogant. But also very entertaining
loyaultemelie's review against another edition
1.0
Will write a proper review tomorrow. For now all I can say is I wish people would stop hero worshipping a fascist.
dalirumm's review against another edition
Heavy language, slow reading, hard to track any narrative - often felt like distant commentary on a series of events.
princesszinza's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I had no idea who the Mitford sisters were. By coincidence I read a book about Kathleen Kennedy immediately before starting this book and Deborah Mitford was featured.
Just like the Kathleen Kennedy book, I had a hard time starting out with this one. I feel that this book was written for someone who already knew of the Mitfords. The story moves quickly among all the family members. At first I had difficulty figuring out which sister was which. As it moved along into the pre-World War II period, I began to get more interested and had sorted out which sister was which. It was Unity Mitford's story that really pulled me in and kept me reading.
Although I was told again and again how captivating and clever the Mitfords were, I never found out why. Unity, Diana and Jessica were extremists who had created havoc with their political beliefs. Nancy was the family tattle-tale who embarrassed the whole family with her autobiographical novels. Pamela and Deborah are portrayed as the most normal of the sisters.
I had no idea who the Mitford sisters were. By coincidence I read a book about Kathleen Kennedy immediately before starting this book and Deborah Mitford was featured.
Just like the Kathleen Kennedy book, I had a hard time starting out with this one. I feel that this book was written for someone who already knew of the Mitfords. The story moves quickly among all the family members. At first I had difficulty figuring out which sister was which. As it moved along into the pre-World War II period, I began to get more interested and had sorted out which sister was which. It was Unity Mitford's story that really pulled me in and kept me reading.
Although I was told again and again how captivating and clever the Mitfords were, I never found out why. Unity, Diana and Jessica were extremists who had created havoc with their political beliefs. Nancy was the family tattle-tale who embarrassed the whole family with her autobiographical novels. Pamela and Deborah are portrayed as the most normal of the sisters.
mannim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
I read a lot of British Golden Age mysteries. They are full of stock characters & one of the most prevalent was The Wide-Eyed Ingenue who is overly dramatic, says (gasp) Such Things, but is forgiven because she is young & beautiful. Reading this biography you realise the six Mitford sisters were the templates.
Thompson seems similarly indulgent, particularly of Diana who she met & appears to hero worship. I wouldn't go as far to say I worship the eldest sister Nancy
but I am enormous admirer of her biographies & the one novel of hers I've read [bc:The Blessing|31559915|The Blessing|Nancy Mitford|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471658529s/31559915.jpg|148207] and it was very much a shock to find my idol had feet of clay. In fact feet???? The clay would go right up to her neck!
Most shocking was Nancy's betrayal of Diana. My first revulsion is now replaced by an understanding of how terrible a fascist world would have been, but to have urged a second time for Diana not to be released from prison when she was an unwell (but not broken) woman I find hard to understand - in particular when she knew how appalling the conditions were & that Diana & her second husband the infamous Oswald Mosley were kept in.
But Nancy gets less time from the author than Diana & Unity do - possibly because Thompson has already written a biography of Nancy [bc:Life in a Cold Climate: Nancy Mitford|1626801|Life in a Cold Climate Nancy Mitford|Laura Thompson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328821541s/1626801.jpg|1620858] Thompson suggests Unity was mentally ill which would certainly explain her hysterical adoption of the Nazi cause. I find this photo chilling;
Picture taken in Munich. Unity is wearing a uniform of Mosley's Black Shirts.
The other three sisters (Jessica, Pamela & Deborah) get relatively little page time. Pamela (who I think was an interesting character) gets less page time than the only Mitford boy Tom. Until reading this book I didn't know there was a brother!
Left to right: Unity, Tom, Deborah, Diana, Jessica,Nancy, Pamela
Like both Pamela & Deborah his views were right wing - just not as hard core as Diana & Unity. If I read a further biography I would like one of all seven siblings.
& I may look for a biography of Jessica - fascinating that her views were so diametrically opposed to her siblings & parents. At the time being a Communist would have been seen as worse that a Fascist. Now???
Edit; because forgot to mention that this book had one of the worst prologues I have read in quite some time!
I read a lot of British Golden Age mysteries. They are full of stock characters & one of the most prevalent was The Wide-Eyed Ingenue who is overly dramatic, says (gasp) Such Things, but is forgiven because she is young & beautiful. Reading this biography you realise the six Mitford sisters were the templates.
Thompson seems similarly indulgent, particularly of Diana who she met & appears to hero worship. I wouldn't go as far to say I worship the eldest sister Nancy
but I am enormous admirer of her biographies & the one novel of hers I've read [bc:The Blessing|31559915|The Blessing|Nancy Mitford|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471658529s/31559915.jpg|148207] and it was very much a shock to find my idol had feet of clay. In fact feet???? The clay would go right up to her neck!
Most shocking was Nancy's betrayal of Diana. My first revulsion is now replaced by an understanding of how terrible a fascist world would have been, but to have urged a second time for Diana not to be released from prison when she was an unwell (but not broken) woman I find hard to understand - in particular when she knew how appalling the conditions were & that Diana & her second husband the infamous Oswald Mosley were kept in.
But Nancy gets less time from the author than Diana & Unity do - possibly because Thompson has already written a biography of Nancy [bc:Life in a Cold Climate: Nancy Mitford|1626801|Life in a Cold Climate Nancy Mitford|Laura Thompson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328821541s/1626801.jpg|1620858] Thompson suggests Unity was mentally ill which would certainly explain her hysterical adoption of the Nazi cause. I find this photo chilling;
Picture taken in Munich. Unity is wearing a uniform of Mosley's Black Shirts.
The other three sisters (Jessica, Pamela & Deborah) get relatively little page time. Pamela (who I think was an interesting character) gets less page time than the only Mitford boy Tom. Until reading this book I didn't know there was a brother!
Left to right: Unity, Tom, Deborah, Diana, Jessica,Nancy, Pamela
Like both Pamela & Deborah his views were right wing - just not as hard core as Diana & Unity. If I read a further biography I would like one of all seven siblings.
& I may look for a biography of Jessica - fascinating that her views were so diametrically opposed to her siblings & parents. At the time being a Communist would have been seen as worse that a Fascist. Now???
Edit; because forgot to mention that this book had one of the worst prologues I have read in quite some time!
jasmine_books342's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0