The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company Written By: Mary S. Lovell Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Hardcover Format: Bargain Price Label: W. W. Norton & Company Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 384 Publication Date: 2002-01 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Studio: W. W. Norton & Company
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Editorial Reviews: They were beautiful, brilliant, gloriously eccentric, and their humor was legendary. Everything was perfect, except for their politics. This is the story of a close, loving family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy, the eldest, was one of the best-selling novelists of her day; the ethereally beautiful Diana, married to the Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley and imprisoned without trial through most of World War II, was the most hated woman in England; Unity Valkyrie Mitford, born in the mining town of Swastika, Alaska, would become obsessed with Adolf Hitler, whom she met on at least 140 occasions. When war was declared between England and Germany, she shot herself in the head. The Mitfords had style, presence, and were extremely gifted: four would go on to write best-selling books. Above all, they were funny—hilariously and often mercilessly so. In this wise, evenhanded, and generous book, Mary Lovell captures the vitality and extraordinary drama of a family that took the twentieth century by the throat and became, in some respects, its victims. 16 pages of b/w photographs.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Not just a little bias.............. Comment: A very entertaining book, the author did a commendable job putting together a series of mini biographies for not just the famous/infamous Mitford girls, but also their men, parents, and close friends/families. I recommend this book as a guide to anyone who's interested in the Mitford clan but doesn't know where to start. A word of caution though: if you are interested in Diana Mosely, Unity or Jessica Mitford, I'd take what this book presents with a grain of salt....This book is not, like a previous reviewer said "a little bias" - this book is extremely bias when it comes to Diana Mosely. Almost all quoted comments comes with a footnote listing special comments or conflicting info; but most of Diana's comments were quoted as is, especially when it comes to conflict amongst Jessica, Unity and Diana. Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing and dull Comment: I read a lot of biographies and found this one increasingly dull and difficult to get through. Past halfway, it turned into a chore to finish. The writing is uninspired; attempts to prove characters' wit often fall flat; the book is filled with questionable judgments; and there is a huge gap in the author's conception of the book. Hitler held such sway over a good part of the family (even at the end of the war Tom Mitford praised him) that you wish the author had asked herself: How could such educated or sophisticated people have been taken in by Hitler? It's not that others weren't, but that's not an excuse. What about this family's psychology turned many of them into admirers of a man so widely reviled. The author keeps making excuses for them, and it becomes tiresome, and you feel the book is just skating across the surface of homes and pullulating cousins, nieces and nephews. It's not that there aren't some bright moments, but I got much more enjoyment and learned more about Nancy Mitford from her letters with Evelyn Waugh. Customer Rating: Summary: mitford sisters Comment: i just found out about the midford familt recently so i got this book.what a strange family of sisters.mixed with love hate and loyality disloyality with nazism fasist communist through in.the book will captive you.you will not be able to put it down. Customer Rating: Summary: The Mitfords make Paris & Lindsay look like upstanding citizens. Comment: Just read this for my book club and OY, OY, OY, did I ever hate it. I really did not find any of the sisters to be sympathetic. They were so spoiled and out of touch with reality. Furthermore, they were so mean to each other. I also had a hard time keeping them straight with all of their stupid nicknames. The biographer's apologetic yet pedantic tone bugged the hell out of me. Lady, we all get the peerage system and the nanny system. Oh and BTW, hobnobbing with Nazis does not make one fascinating; it makes one despicable, even if you are the most classically beautiful woman to grace the world. How bout another OY for good measure... OY! Customer Rating: Summary: just a little biased Comment: A biography clearly more sympathetic with some sisters more than others, but overall a comprehensive look at the sisters and the time and world in which they lived. More Reviews