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Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family | Mary S Lovell
26 posts | 32 read | 48 to read
The Mitfords had style and presence and were mercilessly 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. "
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review
KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

Another readable but biased book about the Mitford sisters. Again, everything Diana says and does is excused because of her beauty while Jessica is disparaged because she was a Communist. Mocking remarks about the death of Jessica‘s baby are even excused because after all her husband had been known to play some horrible pranks; whereas, we are expected to feel sorry for Diana when she‘s taken to to prison before her healthy baby is weaned.🙄

KathyWheeler Also, the book is titled The Sisters, but we see very little of Nancy, Pam, and Debo even though Nancy was a well-known writer. It‘s mostly about Unity, Diana, and Jessica. Unity‘s pro-Nazi attitude is discussed but mainly in regard to her stalking of and her eventual relationship with Hitler. A lot of it is, “Oh, poor Unity! She only wanted peace between the two countries she loved.” Jessica‘s declarations of her unhappy childhood are dismissed. 11mo
KathyWheeler And they are dismissed because everyone else said she seemed so happy. I would think the fact that she established a runaway fund as a child is pretty indicative that not all was wine and roses. 11mo
KathyWheeler The author goes out of her way to say that Diana‘s extraordinary beauty is just not captured well by photographs. I would have to agree, as to me, looking at the pictures, the extraordinarily beautiful one is Debo. But I don‘t understand this obsession with Diana‘s beauty and using it to excuse everything. Maybe because Diana was still alive when this book was written, and she allowed access to family papers and other things? 11mo
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KathyWheeler Last comment. Much is made of the horrible conditions that Diana lived under in Holloway prison with very little acknowledgment that she was not the only one. Yes, conditions should have been improved, but for everyone, not just Diana. She had people interceding for her and making her life a little easier, including Churchill; most other prisoners had no one. 11mo
rubyslippersreads Diana wrote a memoir about her friend Wallis Simpson. Birds of a feather … 😏 11mo
KathyWheeler @rubyslippersreads The first book I read about the Mitfords,The Six, didn‘t mention the book about Wallis Simpson, but this one did. The author also stated that there was never any proof that the Duke of Windsor supported Hitler, but I thought that was pretty well known. 11mo
KathyWheeler Very last comment. 😄. I‘ve been thinking about this. All of the pictures on the cover are of the sisters as adults, except the one of Jessica in the top right. The picture used is the one of her as a pouting child even though there are many pictures of her as an adult. It might not mean anything, but it‘s interesting. (edited) 11mo
26 likes7 comments
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SonyaV
Mehso-so

Rather biased writing, and didn't find the answers I was looking for...as in why? Why did Unity and Diane go fascist? There seems to be no underlying reason.. Besides an obsession with a man.. Very little really written about Deborah or Pam, and the author is hostile towards Jessica while Unity seems to do no wrong in the author's eyes. I'm sure there are better bios about the sisters out there.

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emilyhaldi
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David and Sydney Mitford raised their 6 daughters and one son with an emphasis on being unique and always appreciated their differences. And were they ever different! This account of their lives includes scandal, political intrigue, and a whole lot of sibling rivalry.
#expressyourself
#movember

Leftcoastzen I want to read this! Love Decca. 4y
Cinfhen #FridayFlowers 😍I know lots of Littens love reading about the Mitford‘s, I haven‘t read anything yet😔 4y
Simona @cinfhen Definitely worthy to try❣️It‘s hard to believe how extraordinary their lives were. 4y
Reviewsbylola Such a fascinating family. 4y
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Aimeesue
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Today‘s haul from the book sorting. I was happy to finally find Everything Under, and was thrilled with the Thirkell and the Mitford saga.

Also, there‘s this tea -which I assumed was going to be gross and bought it just so I could say I TRIED it, but is actually very, very good and I had to go back for additional tins because it‘s a seasonal item and God forbid I run out in February 2020.

jillrhudy I think I've read that Thirkell, and I have definitely read “The Sisters,“ but if I read anything by or about a Mitford I catch a Mitford Bug and become obsessed with them AGAIN! The peril! 5y
Aimeesue @jillrhudy Yes, it‘s quite a perilous trap. But what is one to do- NOT read Mitfords??? Qu‘ell horreur! 5y
jillrhudy @Aimeesue Not an option. They're so great. 5y
Lcsmcat My daughter loves that tea, but our Trader Joe‘s doesn‘t carry it. 5y
Aimeesue @Lcsmcat I totally expected to hate it, but turns out that it's nicely balanced and doesn't taste like fake watermelon flavour at all. Weird that your TJ's doesn't have it. Although mine doesn't have Cherries & Berries tea, and I wanted to try that, too. Distribution of seasonal stuff is def hit or miss. 5y
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merelybookish
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LeahBergen ENDLESSLY fascinating! 😍😍 5y
Cinfhen Nice @LeahBergen @merelybookish 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
merelybookish @LeahBergen Indeed! Do you have a favorite Mitford girl? 5y
RohitSawant Oo, sounds interesting! 5y
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emilyhaldi
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vivastory Great choice. This sounds fascinating! 5y
LeslieO I loved this one! 5y
Cinfhen Great pick!! Still on my #OneDay list #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime 5y
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LeahBergen Yes! 👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Mdargusch Love those sisters! 5y
Reviewsbylola Loved this book! I hadn‘t heard of the Mitfords before I read it. It sparked my fascination with them. 5y
Reviewsbylola Ain‘t that the truth! 😭😭 @Cinfhen 5y
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Reviewsbylola
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#fromparistoberlin

Ok, technically it‘s from England to Berlin, but the sentiment is the same imo. 😂 Unity Mitford was one of the iconic Mitford sisters, well known socialites that included authors Nancy and Jessica Mitford.

Unity became part of Hitler‘s inner circle during WWII and was a staunch and steadfast supporter of the Nazi party. She eventually put a bullet in her head and was never able to recover. She died at 33.

#septemberdanes

erzascarletbookgasm Fascinating! 6y
Mdargusch ❤️Mitfords❤️ 6y
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LeahBergen Love those Mitfords! ❤️ 6y
Kalalalatja Oh, wow, that‘s really interesting! 6y
emilyhaldi Such a fascinating family 🤯 6y
95 likes6 comments
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LeahBergen
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#Unity

Unity was the Mitford sister who was a close friend of Hitler‘s. 😳

#FierceFeb

batsy Oh dear, Unity :( A fascinating family... I must read this! 6y
Cinfhen I agree @batsy what a fascinating family! 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Sounds like a fascinating read. 6y
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Lcsmcat Interesting. I wonder if my library has this. 6y
Foragingfantasy I'm pretty sure I have this one somewhere... 6y
Moonpa Good read! 6y
Mdargusch I liked this book. It was my first foray into the lives of the Mitford sisters. 6y
rubyslippersreads Great choice! I need to read this one. 6y
DeborahSmall Truly fascinating, need to read about them. Know very little about them 😘 6y
Centique Oh man, great minds think alike! I thought of Unity Mitford too 😂 Thinking cap back on now! 6y
LeahBergen @Centique Oops! 😂 6y
Reviewsbylola This book got me hooked on the Mitfords!! 6y
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Jas16
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Another book languishing unread in my kitchen cabinets. #saga #jubilantjuly

emilyhaldi Dying to read this! 7y
rubyslippersreads Mine too! 😏 7y
Dragon I enjoyed this one, I love books about The Mitfords 😀 7y
alisiakae It's been a while, but I loved this book! 7y
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MayJasper
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#siblings #aprilbookshowers
@RealLifeReading

How fortunate I am to have visited Chatsworth several times, the beautiful home of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire (nee Mitford).

Laura317 Sounds good! I love books like these. I suppose I have a thing for the gentry. 7y
AlaMich They were quite the interesting family, no? 😳 7y
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Simona
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Six sisters and one brother - crazy bunch of #siblings
Interesting personalities, extraordinary stories and very diverse life paths.

#aprilbookshowers

LeahBergen I ❤ those Mitfords. 7y
Simona @LeahBergen Very unusual and interesting family❣️ 7y
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theladygreer
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A book about any one of the Mitford sisters would be rich territory for #womenshistoryreads -- THE SISTERS, which covers all six, is even richer. Writers and revolutionaries and so much more, this British clan makes a fascinating study in what draws families together & what tears them apart. #womenwriters #bookstagram #herstory #maryslovell #mitfordsisters #womenshistorymonth

DivineDiana I have this book! You have encouraged me to move it up on my TBR list! 7y
LeahBergen Love the Mitfords. 7y
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ontheBL
Mehso-so

The Mitford sisters are as diverse as can be. Lovell does a great job of portraying each sister with their flaws, successes, and differences. It's an intriguing family and story.

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

A fascinating family with a unique story that covers decades, wars, and all manner of life.

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RZMelodie
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rubyslippersreads
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Nicky is shocked, shocked by the behavior of the Mitford sisters in #somethingborrowed from a friend much too long ago. I need to move this up my TBR list. #booktober #octphotochallenge #day7 #catsoflitsy #kittenlitten

LauraBeth Gorgeous pic 😻😻 7y
britt_brooke Cool photo! 📷😻 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻 7y
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Dragon Fun photo and I enjoyed the book 📚 7y
Bookzombie Cool pic! 7y
Simona They have been my #girlcrush 7y
rubyslippersreads @Dragon @Simona sounds like I'll enjoy it. Another book about them just came out. 7y
Bette Beautiful 😍🐱 7y
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MMenefee
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My significant otter (pictured reading, next to the cooler and my soon to be filled reading chair) went to Cornell for undergrad and introduced me to the beauty of the finger lakes region. In 2008, we rented a house on Cayuga Lake and I packed a bunch of library books. I recall this title in particular because it's a thoroughly researched and wonderfully written account of these women. #somethingforsept

MMenefee Also, this was likely the last time I read outdoors. I'm the indoorsy type due to bugs, heat, allergies, sun, wind ... 8y
Claireluana I am now charmed by the idea of having a 'significant otter' (though I know that's probably not what you meant!) 😆 8y
rachelm Ditto to loving sig otter! 8y
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MMenefee @Claireluana That's what I meant. That's what I call him.😉 8y
RealLifeReading 😍😍 8y
Zelma Great picture and gorgeous view! 8y
Reviewsbylola This book started my love affair with the Mitford sisters. 8y
MMenefee @Reviewsbylola I love Nancy's books I've read: Love in a Cold Climate and The Pursuit of Live. 8y
LeahBergen I love those crazy Mitfords. 8y
Reviewsbylola Those were both great. I also read Wigs on the Green, which was fun. Jessica Mitford's The Americsn Way of Death mad a huge impact on me. 8y
Gulfsidemusing Gorgeous spot!!! 8y
Ferihearted Went to the Finger Lakes in April wonderful wine 8y
BlogginBoutBooks We stayed at Cayuga Lake a few summers ago. It was beautiful and relaxing! 8y
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love_everylittlething
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Pickpick

Amazing, thorough, and fascinating biography of the 20th century's most notorious sisters. Each sister is beautifully (and fairly) portrayed and a good addition to your library if biographies are your happy place.

MrBook Ooh, @BookBabe this one sounds right for you 😊. 8y
mollykh Possibly my favorite biography! 8y
love_everylittlething @mollykh Have you read their letters? So good! 8y
mollykh I've read everything. The letters, Nancy's novels, Decca's books, Debo's collected essays and her books about Chatsworth...it's so rare to have so much to read about one family, let alone an interesting one. 8y
love_everylittlething @mollykh I know! They were such a prolific family. I think their story is so fascinating. Debo's granddaughter Stella Tennant is a supermodel and she has that lovely sharp Mitford face. I'm a little obsessed with Daphne Guinness who is Diana's granddaughter. There was a little short film made about her, I think you can find it on YouTube. Incredible family. 8y
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Simona
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Pickpick

Extraordinarily...Fascinating life, fascinating sisters, fascinating time.... I want more!

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