Are there any Mitford girls left ?

[salymap]

I see that Lady Mosley, I think Diana Mitford, has died at 93. I used to enjoy reading about them with their difficult 'Pa' and extreme political views.

Not much now, a short obit in one paper, as far as I can see.

[mercia]

wikipedia says Diana died in 2003
only Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire still alive (aged 92)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitford_sisters#Mitford_sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSAbSRcsUcY

[Ferretfancy]

Six degrees of separation.

An uncle of mine by marriage had a niece on his side of the family who married Max Mosley, son of Oswald and Diana. She was, of course, a Mitford, and her sister Unity was alleged to have had a fling with Hitler, so that relates me to the Führer !
I did go to Chatsworth once, but Debbo wasn't at home, and they wouldn't let me in without paying -- mean really.

[marthe]

During the time that she was writing The American Way of Death, Jessica Mitford wrote to one of my aunts to find out about plain funerals, of which said aunt was an advocate. So much for name dropping! I did read Nancy Mitford's autobiographical novels and enjoyed them at the time. Recently, we watched a documentary about behind-the-scenes at Chatsworth. Fascinating to see the details of what goes on to present a good face to the public and have everything run smoothly. The Dowager Duchess did make a brief appearance in the doc but it was mostly her son and daughter-in-law who were featured. Chatsworth makes the famed mansions of Newport, RI look like dog kennels. Alva [Vanderbilt Belmont] would not be best pleased, though her daughter, Consuelo, was chatelaine of another big pile: Blenheim.

[salymap]

During the time that she was writing The American Way of Death, Jessica Mitford wrote to one of my aunts to find out about plain funerals, of which said aunt was an advocate. So much for name dropping! I did read Nancy Mitford's autobiographical novels and enjoyed them at the time. Recently, we watched a documentary about behind-the-scenes at Chatsworth. Fascinating to see the details of what goes on to present a good face to the public and have everything run smoothly. The Dowager Duchess did make a brief appearance in the doc but it was mostly her son and daughter-in-law who were featured. Chatsworth makes the famed mansions of Newport, RI look like dog kennels. Alva [Vanderbilt Belmont] would not be best pleased, though her daughter, Consuelo, was chatelaine of another big pile: Blenheim.

Thanks for that marthe. Well she was in the Telegraph on line earlier but has now disappeared. Honestly it was there, obviously an error on somebody's part. I'velost touch with the Chatsworth comings and goings

Thanks Ferret as well. What a well-connected lot you are

[french frank]

Nancy, I recall from her writings, referred to her three youngest sisters by the middle syllables of their names: Nit, Sic and Bor.

[teamsaint]

that is only one letter fewer than I and my two siblings got IN TOTAL !!!
Between three of us.
All added up.
I mean, it wasn't as if names were taxed or anything !

Anyway as for the mitfords, there are still new books being published on them...fascinating !

[antongould]

I grew up in Redesdale the valley in Northumberland where the river Rede flows and where the Mitford girll's father Lord Redesdale spent his final years with, if I recall correctly, a former family maid. By a further coincidence salymap I am currently reading the collected letters of the six girls and am at present in the 30s when Hitler is the main topic of discussion.

[marthe]

Yes, I believe Farve spent his last years in Redesdale while Muv lived out her life on Inch Kenneth, an island off the Scottish coast.

[antongould]

how the other half lives on quite a few levels..........

[salymap]

how the other half lives on quite a few levels..........

Morning anton, I would like details of that book you are reading if at all possible. Mind you, the chance of the print being large enough for me and Bexley library being able to get it are pretty slim....

[Richard Tarleton]

Morning anton, I would like details of that book you are reading if at all possible. Mind you, the chance of the print being large enough for me and Bexley library being able to get it are pretty slim....

Saly I'll have a look to see what happened to my mother's copy when we cleared her flat out. For a while books on the Mitfords were a great standby for Christmas and birthdays - after I'd given her this she begged me to stop - it is an enormous volume, she also complained it was too heavy

[antongould]

Good morning salymap
It is called - The Mitfords - Letters Between Six Sisters Edited by Charlotte Morley and as Richard says it is big - 854 pages of, sadly, not very large print and a lot of the interest is in the footnotes to each letter which are in an even smaller font. There doesn't seem to be an audio book that I can find - but then it probably wouldn't work in that format. I am at page 133!!!

[salymap]

Saly I'll have a look to see what happened to my mother's copy when we cleared her flat out. For a while books on the Mitfords were a great standby for Christmas and birthdays - after I'd given her this she begged me to stop - it is an enormous volume, she also complained it was too heavy

Thanks Richard, but from what you and anton say it doesn't sound suitable for me in my present state of falling apart.

[Richard Tarleton]

Thanks Richard, but from what you and anton say it doesn't sound suitable for me in my present state of falling apart.

My sister has in the meantime taken it to the local Oxfam bookshop.....