The sisters : the saga of the Mitford family / Mary S. Lovell.
Material type: TextPublication details: New York : Norton, 2003, c2001.Edition: 1st American edDescription: 611 p. : ill. ; 20 cmISBN:- 0393324141 (pbk.)
- 9780393324143 (pbk.)
- Mitford girls
Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Book | Main Library | NonFiction | 920.72 L911 | Available | 33111006737999 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
"Fascinating, the way all great family stories are fascinating."--Robert Gottlieb, New York Times Book Review
This is the story of a close, loving family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the world wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy was one of the best-selling novelists of her day; beautiful Diana married the Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley; and Unity, a close friend of Hitler, shot herself in the head when England and Germany declared war.
The Mitfords had style and presence and were remarkably gifted. Above all, they were funny--hilariously and mercilessly so. In this wise, evenhanded, and generous book, Mary Lovell captures the vitality and drama of a family that took the twentieth century by storm and became, in some respects, its victims.
Originally published: The Mitford girls. London : Little, Brown, 2001.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Victorian roots, 1894-1904 -- 2. Edwardian afternoon, 1904-15 -- 3. Nursery days, s 1915-22 -- 4. Roaring twenties, 1922-9 -- 5. Bright young things 1929-30 -- 6. The stage is set, 1930-2 -- 7. Slings and arrows, 1932-4 -- 8. Unity and the Führer, 1934-5 -- 9. Secret marriage, 1935-7 -- 10. Elopement, 1937 -- 11. Family at odds, 1937-8 -- 12. Slide towards conflict, 1938 -- 13. No laughing matter, 1939 -- 14. Irreconcilable differences, 1940-41 -- 15. Gains and losses, 1941-3 -- 16. Women at war, 1943-4 -- 17. The French lady writer, 1944-7 -- 18. Truth and consequences, 1948-55 -- 19. Return to the old country, 1955-8 -- 20. A cold wind to the heart, 1958-66 -- 21. Views and reviews, 1966-80 -- 22. Relatively calm waters, 1980-2000.
A portrait of the Mitford sisters follows Jessica, a communist; Debo, the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy, a best-selling novelist; Diana, who was the most hated woman in England; and Unity, who was obsessed with Adolf Hitler.