The Six The Lives of the Mitford Sisters by Laura Thompson

Asthall Manor, the family home of the Mitford sisters. (Wikipedia)

I could never read enough books about the Mitford sisters. They are endlessly fascinating, especially the wonderful Nancy, who wrote the adorable Love in a Cold Climate. Another book about them is a welcome addition!

This book is a little bit academic and factual, but it is very analytical and Laura Thompson certainly explains Diana's and Unity's personalities and why they were drawn to Fascism, extremely well. She also describes Jessica's character and I was pleased that she has little sympathy for Jessica's attraction to Communism and makes it clear that Stalin was a tyrant and murderer, like Hitler. History has been kinder to Jessica and she did get involved in the civil rights movement. However, Communism is just as bad as Fascism and 'fellow-travelling' in either direction shouldn't be condoned.

This may become the definitive book about the sisters. It's all here  - the mistakes of the parents, the combative rivalries between the sisters, their love affairs, and the differences between their personalities.  If you are interested in the Mitford's, you should read it soon!

I received this free ebook from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.



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