The Mitford
Affair by Marie Benedict 352 pages
I
have not previously read a lot about the six Mitford sisters, but I’ve known
who they are. Six girls/women who grew up and in the highest of the early part
of the 20th century English society.
While each sister had her distinct personality, they were a tight-knit
clan. They thought and did exactly as they pleased; rules be damn! Sometimes,
it was hard to tell them apart. Especially on the first few chapters where
readers are introduced t their nicknames for each other; I had a terrible time
keeping them straight!
Author
Marie Benedict, one of my favorites by the way, takes on three of the sisters
as life in England was rapidly changing. This novel focuses on the period from
1932 to 1941. Benedict gives us the loves
and the lives of three of those sisters (Nancy, Diana and Unity). But don’t
worry, the other three (Pamela, Jessica and Deborah) so show up from time to
time, especially in the first few chapters.
Fans
of Benedict’s know that this will be another character-driven novel, so plot
seekers don’t bother.
Diana
and Unity are estranged from the rest of the family due to their ties and
fascination with Fascism and Nazism.
Diana has an affair with the leaders of the British Union of Fascists
and ultimately leaves her husband for the man. Unity has gone to Munich to
supposedly study the German language, but becomes so enamored of Adolph Hitler
that she stalks him until she becomes part of his inner circle. Historians are
unsure of whether she was one of his mistresses, but Benedict gives enough
evidence to support that she did.
Nancy
has gained fame her own way by writing novels, some of which are still in print
today. I did see a collection available online that contains all eight. Nancy
has the role of peacekeeper and tires to ease the stress between Diana and
Unity and the rest of the family.
Besides
the crisp prose, there are two things that really stood out in this novel.
First, each chapter is dated and readers get to know what each of the women was
up to on each date. Second, Diana and Unity’s chapters were told from a third
person point of view while Nancy’s was in first person. I found this jarring as
I read. Still “The Mitford Affair,” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
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