Publication
Thorndike Press, 2023
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction B
Physical description
547 p.; 22 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
"Between the World Wars, the six Mitford sisters-each more beautiful, brilliant, and eccentric than the next-dominate the English scenes. Though they've weathered scandals before, the family falls into disarray when Diana divorces her wealthy husband to marry a fascist leader and Unity follows her sister's lead all the way to Munich, inciting rumors that she's become Hitler's mistress. As the Nazis rise in power, novelist Nancy Mitford grows suspicious of her sisters' constant visits to Germany and the high-ranking fascist company they keep. When she overhears alarming conversations and uncovers disquieting documents, Nancy must make excruciating choices as Great Britain goes to war with Germany. Probing the torrid political climate in the lead-up to WWII and the ways that seemingly sensible people can be sucked into radical action, The Mitford Affair follows Nancy's valiant efforts to stop the Nazis from taking over Great Britain, choosing between loyalty to her country and allegiance to her family, and forcing her to learn exactly how personal is the political"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
This book follows the lives of three of the six Mitford sisters - Diana, Unity, and Nancy. Diana decides to upend her life and divorces her wealthy husband. She marries a radical fascist leader and becomes enthralled with the fascist movement. Unity joins the Nazi's in Germany and becomes one of
This book featured short choppy chapters alternating between the sister's points of view. I did not feel a real connection with the characters, they felt distant and forced. The story was interesting, particularly Unity and her obsession with Nazism. However, overall, not a story a would re-read or recommend.
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Hitler's inner circle. Nancy watches the chaos of her sisters and tries to bring a calming influence to all. This book featured short choppy chapters alternating between the sister's points of view. I did not feel a real connection with the characters, they felt distant and forced. The story was interesting, particularly Unity and her obsession with Nazism. However, overall, not a story a would re-read or recommend.
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LibraryThing member susan0316
The Mitford family was a prominent part of English society in the years between World War I and II. The six sisters were considered the Bright Young Things of their time and they were all outspoken and strong women and were very close. Marie Benedict has written a historical fiction novel about
Even though there were six sisters, the novel predominately focuses on three of them
-Diana was a beautiful woman who was married to the heir of the Guinness fortune She gave up her prominent place in society and divorced her husband to have an affair with the charismatic fascist leader who was still married.
-Unity was the sister who became a Nazi and was rumored to be the mistress of Hitler. She moved to Germany and was enthralled with Hitler and his leadership of Germany. She made no secret of her love of Hitler and his government.
-Nancy was the most normal of the three sisters and despite the fact that they had been close as children, their closeness waned after Diane and Unity became so political. Nancy was a novelist who often poked fun at her sisters and other important people in society in her books. She had some interest in the fascist movement in England but when the war became imminent, she made a choice to support the English government and helped the government when her two sisters were accused of being spies.
The author did extensive research into the sisters and the political climate that existed in England between the two world wars. This is a story about family and the love between sisters but more importantly it's about one sister making a choice between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty for her country.
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this real family and the scandals that they created as England went to war with Germany.Even though there were six sisters, the novel predominately focuses on three of them
-Diana was a beautiful woman who was married to the heir of the Guinness fortune She gave up her prominent place in society and divorced her husband to have an affair with the charismatic fascist leader who was still married.
-Unity was the sister who became a Nazi and was rumored to be the mistress of Hitler. She moved to Germany and was enthralled with Hitler and his leadership of Germany. She made no secret of her love of Hitler and his government.
-Nancy was the most normal of the three sisters and despite the fact that they had been close as children, their closeness waned after Diane and Unity became so political. Nancy was a novelist who often poked fun at her sisters and other important people in society in her books. She had some interest in the fascist movement in England but when the war became imminent, she made a choice to support the English government and helped the government when her two sisters were accused of being spies.
The author did extensive research into the sisters and the political climate that existed in England between the two world wars. This is a story about family and the love between sisters but more importantly it's about one sister making a choice between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty for her country.
Show Less
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
The Mitfords!
The Mitford Affair captures the big lives these women lived. In a time of disruption they erupted all over the place. They were debutants who hobnobbed with the highest stratas of society, and they advanced their causes. They were eccentric in their choices. Like slightly in-bred,
I’ve totally fascinated by the “Mitfords” and their pursuits of extremes—from communism to fascism. Benedict has written an illuminating book looking at the family from mainly four points of view. Diana who divorced her husband and married Oswald Mosley, Unity who was enamoured with Hitler, who idolised him, to Diana the communist, and Nancy who may have been a spy for MI5, but at the very least was shocked by the various positions her family took. Unity and Diana were obsessed. And then there’s the high society interactions where most in the top escheolon are married to each other, so Winston Churchill is also a relative. Their positions in society were stepping stones. Well Diana’s was. Unity wanted someone to adore exclusively, and she found him. The life, the competitiveness inside the family is rather interesting. Each knows how to push the others buttons.
A very readable, insightful dare I say, exploration of what made these women particularly act in the way they did, follow their guiding star, whether disillusioned or not.
Ideas of racism, loyalty to a cause, entitlement, all that, and more are raised.
A Sourcebooks ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
The Mitford Affair captures the big lives these women lived. In a time of disruption they erupted all over the place. They were debutants who hobnobbed with the highest stratas of society, and they advanced their causes. They were eccentric in their choices. Like slightly in-bred,
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cavalier Afghan Hounds they caused major disruptions wherever they went, whatever they turned their mind too. How could six sisters be so different?I’ve totally fascinated by the “Mitfords” and their pursuits of extremes—from communism to fascism. Benedict has written an illuminating book looking at the family from mainly four points of view. Diana who divorced her husband and married Oswald Mosley, Unity who was enamoured with Hitler, who idolised him, to Diana the communist, and Nancy who may have been a spy for MI5, but at the very least was shocked by the various positions her family took. Unity and Diana were obsessed. And then there’s the high society interactions where most in the top escheolon are married to each other, so Winston Churchill is also a relative. Their positions in society were stepping stones. Well Diana’s was. Unity wanted someone to adore exclusively, and she found him. The life, the competitiveness inside the family is rather interesting. Each knows how to push the others buttons.
A very readable, insightful dare I say, exploration of what made these women particularly act in the way they did, follow their guiding star, whether disillusioned or not.
Ideas of racism, loyalty to a cause, entitlement, all that, and more are raised.
A Sourcebooks ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tamidale
Having previously read a non-fiction book about the Mitford sisters, my attention was grabbed by this new historical fiction by Marie Benedict. I loved how she stayed true to what I already knew of the sisters and to their role around the years of World War II.
The sisters were from an old wealthy
Nancy, the eldest Mitford sister was the most prominently focused of the sisters. She was an author and some of her books stirred animosity within the family. She was also the one who tried to steer her wayward sisters away from their unpopular politics.
Of the six, Unity had the most controversial and saddest life. One might even assume she suffered from mild mental illness even before meeting Hitler. Diana, the most beautiful of the sisters, was also cool-headed and intelligent. She had a daring most women of her tie did not possess. This is evident in her decision to divorce her husband and have an affair for years with a fascist fanatic named Oswald Moseley.
The Mitford sisters exemplify the phrase that “truth is better than fiction” because their lives were most certainly fitting of tabloid headlines in today’s world. I really enjoyed the book, even though I already knew the ending and I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy history and daring women.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
The sisters were from an old wealthy
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English family, all were debutantes and the goal for their futures was that they marry well. Their father had fought in WWI and was not a fan of the Germans. Surprisingly, two of his daughters became enamored with Hitler and his politics, to the point of seriously damaging their reputations among their peers.Nancy, the eldest Mitford sister was the most prominently focused of the sisters. She was an author and some of her books stirred animosity within the family. She was also the one who tried to steer her wayward sisters away from their unpopular politics.
Of the six, Unity had the most controversial and saddest life. One might even assume she suffered from mild mental illness even before meeting Hitler. Diana, the most beautiful of the sisters, was also cool-headed and intelligent. She had a daring most women of her tie did not possess. This is evident in her decision to divorce her husband and have an affair for years with a fascist fanatic named Oswald Moseley.
The Mitford sisters exemplify the phrase that “truth is better than fiction” because their lives were most certainly fitting of tabloid headlines in today’s world. I really enjoyed the book, even though I already knew the ending and I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy history and daring women.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I've encountered the Mitford sisters previously, but this novel was far from a fun journey into the privileged lives of the famous six sisters. Marie Benedict focuses on three of the sisters - Nancy, Diana, and Unity - during the 1930s. While Nancy (a novelist) is a very likable character, Diana
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was deeply engaged with the British fascist movement and Unity was a dedicated follower of Hitler. Reading the chapters from Diana and Unity's perspectives was hard, as I personally find little to emphasize with these views. Still, I could appreciate Nancy's reluctance to betray her sisters, although you do realize quite how well-connected the Mitford family is when Nancy starts spying on her sister for a cousin: Winston Churchill. Overall, a very interesting read, but one that readers should go into with an understanding of the political views held by some of the Mitford family. Show Less
LibraryThing member EllenH
A well researched, mostly true to the facts, interesting and uncomfortable story of the Mitford sisters caught in conflict of loyalty to a cause and country or to family. I wasn't aware of this family and their close connections to Hitler and Churchill and wish I'd realised how accurate it was
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while reading. Benedict tells the story so well while weaving in the family complications, anxiety, callousness and willfull blindness to a couse in some during the war. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mishker
The six Mitford sisters are a force to be reckoned with in England's social scene during the 1930's. The three older sisters, Diana, Unity and Nancy take interesting and different paths as different political factions arise. Diana causes an uproar as she divorces her wealthy husband in order to
The Mitford family was a very real family from England whose lives made an impact in different areas during the interwar period. While this deeply emotional historical fiction story focuses on Nancy, Diana and Unity, each sibling lived a unique experience. The writing shows the intricacies of what happens when politics and family dynamics collide in the Mitford family. Written from alternating points of view of the very fully formed and different characters of Diana, Unity and Nancy, I was constantly amazed at how far the sister's love for one another extended even when their beliefs were at odds. I could feel Diana and Unity's passion towards the powerful, charismatic, yet dangerous men that they pursued and how they poured their energy and worth into Mosley and Hitler's campaigns while being aware of the risks. Nancy's bravery shines through as she uses her pen to try to show the world and her sisters the error of their ways while being incredibly tolerable of their actions towards their faces and actively fighting against them in the background. Overall, The Mitford Affair is a suspenseful and heartfelt look at the intersection of family and politics.
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pursue a relationship with the married leader of the British fascist movement, Oswald Mosley. Diana works relentlessly to pull in money and support for the fascist movement and works closely with her sister, Unity to pull support from Germany. Unity pushes her parents to send her to boarding school in Germany so she can become close to her idol, Hitler. By following his schedule closely, Unity is able to fall into Hitler's inner circle. Nancy realizes that neither Mosley or Hitler are moving in the right direction. Nancy writes fiction novels that show her feelings. She also keeps in touch with Diana and Unity, despite their differences in opinion. As war looms, the sisters have difficult decisions to make. The Mitford family was a very real family from England whose lives made an impact in different areas during the interwar period. While this deeply emotional historical fiction story focuses on Nancy, Diana and Unity, each sibling lived a unique experience. The writing shows the intricacies of what happens when politics and family dynamics collide in the Mitford family. Written from alternating points of view of the very fully formed and different characters of Diana, Unity and Nancy, I was constantly amazed at how far the sister's love for one another extended even when their beliefs were at odds. I could feel Diana and Unity's passion towards the powerful, charismatic, yet dangerous men that they pursued and how they poured their energy and worth into Mosley and Hitler's campaigns while being aware of the risks. Nancy's bravery shines through as she uses her pen to try to show the world and her sisters the error of their ways while being incredibly tolerable of their actions towards their faces and actively fighting against them in the background. Overall, The Mitford Affair is a suspenseful and heartfelt look at the intersection of family and politics.
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Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — January 2023)
Language
Original publication date
2023-01-17
ISBN
9798885785587 /