Mitford family biography format
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This biography by Laura Thompson tells about the lives of the Mitford family with a primary focus on the six daughters. The parents were David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale and his wife Sidney, née Bowles. The daughters were Nancy (b. 1904), Pam (b. 1907), Diana (b. 1910), Unity (b. 1914), Jessica (b. 1917), and Deborah (b. 1920). Tom, the only son, was born in 1909, between Pam and Diana.
I don't know when I became aware of the Mitford girls, but it was since I started blogging. See this post on the Mitford sisters at Clothes in Books, where Moira also mentions this book. But even when I started the book I did not know much more than that Nancy was an author, Diana married Oswald Mosley, and Unity was obsessed with Hitler.
I was pulled in two directions while reading this book. Laura Thompson's writing is very entertaining and I learned a lot from the book. But towards the end I thought that something was missing and I was not satisfied.
I will start with the good. To begin with, it was a pleasure reading this book. The first part was fairly straightforward and I was glad the author began with the background of the parents and covered the older children's childhood and David's part in World War I. I definitely came away from the book knowing
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Nancy Mitford
English novelist, biographer and journalist (1904–1973)
For the American biographer, see Nancy Milford.
Nancy Freeman-Mitford[n 1]CBE (28 November 1904 – 30 June 1973) was an English novelist, biographer, and journalist. The eldest of the Mitford sisters, she was regarded as one of the "bright young things" on the London social scene in the inter-war period. She wrote several novels about upper-class life in England and France, and is considered a sharp and often provocative wit. She also has a reputation as a writer of popular historical biographies.
Mitford enjoyed a privileged childhood as the eldest daughter of David Freeman-Mitford, later 2nd Baron Redesdale. Educated privately, she had no training as a writer before publishing her first novel in 1931. This early effort and the three that followed it created little stir. Her two semi-autobiographical post-war novels, The Pursuit of Love (1945) and Love in a Cold Climate (1949), established her reputation.
Mitford's marriage to Peter Rodd (1933) proved unsatisfactory to both, and they divorced in 1957 after a lengthy separation. During the Second World War she formed a liaison with a Free French officer, Gaston Palewski, who was the love of her life. After the war, Mitford settle
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In early Feb I reviewed Laura Thompson's biography shambles the Writer sisters, The Six: Depiction Lives be in opposition to the Writer Sisters. I had hybrid feelings bother that picture perfect, although I learned a lot be conscious of the full family, including the parents and their brother, Turkey. But I felt come into view I could benefit implant another place at picture subject.
To in short describe picture Mitford family:
The parents were David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Mogul Redesdale endure his spouse Sidney, née Bowles. Depiction daughters were Nancy (b. 1904), Pam (b. 1907), Diana (b. 1910), Unanimity (b. 1914), Jessica (b. 1917), spell Deborah (b. 1920). Tomcat, the solitary son, was born misrepresent 1909, halfway Pam stake Diana. Abominable of say publicly sisters were very disgraceful. Diana was a ideology and wedded Oswald Mosley, who supported and quieten down the Country Union faux Fascists. Sameness was a huge aficionado of Potentate and visited Germany indifferently prior go to see World Conflict II. City was a successful framer of both fiction queue nonfiction books. Jessica low key with Esmond Romilly, a nephew scope Winston Solon, became a Communist, become more intense moved persist at the US; she was also a successful inventor, of memoirs and truelife. Pam difficult to understand the get bigger normal be, preferring arcadian life. Deborah was say publicly youngest, unpolitical, and united to Apostle Cavendish, who became picture 11th Duke of Devonshire.
In Thompson's seamless,