'Touched with genius' - The Spectator
What's the best way to get the upper hand in an argument solely through letters? How should you liven up a dull night at Buckingham Palace? When, exactly, is the best time to run away to the Spanish Civil War?
The Mitford sisters - Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and Deborah - knew the answers to all these questions and more. Perhaps the most remarkable family of the mid-twentieth century, their exciting and varied lives, from communist to fascist to aristocrat, mean that there's no problem they can't solve.
Nancy Mitford was the ultimate tease and her talent for mockery reformed the publishing industry in the 1930s and '40s. Indeed, the Mitford girls' popularity provoked Jessica to label it 'The Mitford Industry'. All six sisters were blessed with beauty, wit and talent, and although they were each an individual they exploited these attributes to the best of their abilities, and serious matters were not excluded from mockerly. Laughter was their key to getting through difficult times, and their life experiences, although sometimes maddening, are a lesson to us all. So how would the Mitford girls cope with the pressures and turmoil of modern life? Whether it is Pamela's guide to throwing a jubilee party, the Mitford guide to shopping or Diana's tips on how to stay young, this quirky and fact-filled book answers that question and many more.
