The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters - Hardcover

Edited By Charlotte Mosley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1841157902 ISBN 13: 9781841157900

Publisher: Fourth Estate, 2007

Synopsis

The never-before published letters of the legendary Mitford sisters, alive with wit, affection, tragedy and gossip: a charismatic history of the century's signal events played out in the lives of a controversial and uniquely gifted family. Spanning the twentieth century, these magically vivid letters between the legendary Mitford sisters constitute not just a superb social and historical chronicle (what other family counted among its friends Hitler and the Queen, Cecil Beaton and President Kennedy, Evelyn Waugh and Givenchy?); they also give an intimate portrait of the stormy but enduring relationship between six beautiful and gifted women who emerged from the same stock, incarnated the same indomitable spirit, yet carved out starkly different roles and identities for themselves. Nancy, the scalding wit who transferred her family life into bestselling novels; Pamela, who craved nothing more than a quiet country life; Diana, the fascist jailed with her husband, Oswald Mosley, during WWII; Unity, an attempted suicide, obsessed with Hitler; Jessica, the runaway communist and fighter for social change; and Deborah, the genial socialite who found herself Duchess of Devonshire. Writing to one another to confide, commiserate, tease, rage and gossip, the sisters wrote above all to amuse. A correspondence of this scope is rare, for it to be penned by six such born storytellers makes it unique. Editor Charlotte Mosley -- Diana Mitford's daughter-in-law -- has had unrestricted access to the vast archive of family letters and photographs, most of which have never been published before.

About this title

About the Author

Charlotte Mosley, Diana Mitford's daughter-in-law, has worked as a publisher and journalist. She has published A Talent to Annoy: Essays, Articles, and Reviews by Nancy Mitford; Love from Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford; and The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh. She lives in Paris.

Review

“Fascinating...Their irresistible appeal comes from the way they invite us into the close family circle.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Funny, loving, sparkly, snarky, heartbreaking, chilling, gossipy, wise....You’ll be rewarded with six up-close, personal-and sometimes appalling-takes on the 20th century.” (O magazine)

“A splendid introduction to the eccentric charms of the Mitford world...On my short list of best books of the year.” (Newsday)

“Marvelous...THE MITFORDS is quite simply one of the most sinful guilty pleasures of the season.” (Baltimore Sun)

“Fascinating...The sisters had the stiff upper lip of their class, and, it must be said, a way with words.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Nothing captures their enduring allure quite like their own correspondence...With this epistolary testament to sisterhood, the mystery of the Mitfords...has at last been solved.” (Vogue)

“Compelling...The letters are so affecting that it is difficult to refrain from wanting to get to know the sisters better.” (St. Petersburg Times)

“An engrossing, deeply personal group portrait...Each letter is a thrilling gem unto itself...Marvelous fun.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Peppered with colorful nicknames, filled with love, encouragement, jealousy and gossip, and written primarily to amuse the recipients, the letters testify to the bonds of sisterhood.” (Publishers Weekly)

“THE MITFORDS could have been an operatic group biography on an epic scale: Instead, thanks to its editor’s taste and discretion, it is chamber music with symphonic longings... an intriguing record of each sister’s personality... all six could write evocatively, even hauntingly.” (Washington Post Book World)

About this edition

• Publisher: Fourth Estate
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1841157902
• ISBN 13: 9781841157900
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 624