House of Mitford : Portrait of a Family [Hardcover]

Jon Guinness (Author), Catherine Guinness (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 1985

The Mitfords were one of the 20th century’s most intriguing and controversial families—glamorous, romantic, and especially in politics, extreme. Among the six daughters and one son born to Lord and Lady Redesdale were Nancy, the novelist and historian; Diana, the wife of fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley; Unity, friend of Hitler; Jessica, a communist-turned-investigative journalist; and Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire. Yet, as this intimate portrait shows, the violent disagreements and flamboyant contrasts that characterized the family obscured a powerful affection and a strong underlying unity. Journalist Jonathan Guinness is the elder son of Diana Mosley. Catherine Guinness, a former writer for Interview magazine, is his daughter.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Bigger, better and back on the shelves. Lord Moyne's lively account of the swishest society sextet has been updated. It's an oldie but it's a goodie'. -- Camilla Long Tatler 'This entertaining book continues to promote the Mitfords' historical interest' The Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

The Mitfords were one of the 20th century’s most intriguing and controversial families—glamorous, romantic, and—especially in politics—extreme. Among the six daughters and one son born to Lord and Lady Redesdale were Nancy, the novelist and historian; Diana, the wife of fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley; Unity, friend of Hitler; Jessica, a communist–turned–investigative journalist; and Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire. Yet, as this intimate portrait shows, the violent disagreements and flamboyant contrasts that characterized the family obscured a powerful affection and a strong underlying unity. Journalist Jonathan Guinness is the elder son of Diana Mosley; Catherine Guinness, a former writer for INTERVIEW magazine, is his daughter. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 604 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; 1ST edition (July 24, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670482153
• ISBN-13: 978-0670482153
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed, but still essential reading for Mitfordians., February 12, 1999

By 

Egrain (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House of Mitford (Hardcover)

Mr. and Ms. Guinness' massive biographical study of their family is tremendously interesting to any devoted reader of the Mitfords. However, their attempts to rehabilitate the legacy of unrepentant fascists Diana (Guinesses' mother--so it's an understandable lapse) and Unity are nearly comical in their reach. They go to great lengths to discredit those who've criticized Unity and Diana's reprehensible involvement in and enthusiasm for Hitler and his British minions, including of course Diana's husband, Mosley; rather than adequately contextualize Diana and Unit's fervor, these attempts serve only to make themselves appear as familial apologists. The authors' unstinting criticism of Jessica's Communism brings their blind spots when it comes to Unity and Diana's fascism into particular relief.

As scholars, the father-and-daughter biographers are lacking in appropriate perspective and historical context; however, the "insider" information they impart makes the book a veritable treasure chest of Mitfordiana.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars all about the mitfords, January 10, 2010

By 

Melissa A. Halliday "book lover" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House of Mitford (Paperback)

this book is (almost) "the holy grail" of the mitford family history. it is a great read and so fascinating. it is everything the reader wants to know and is written by a close family member. author jonathan guinness is diana mitford's son.
i recommend this book highly as a "starter" book for those who are interested in learning about this unusual family. i would also add,to check out other books by other authors. this gives a more,broad perspective of the mitfords and would be written by someone who can see the family in a different light,so to speak...still a great book!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars House of Mitford: Portrait of a Family, April 12, 2010

By 

Greenville National Bank "Karen Ullom" (Greenville, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: House of Mitford : Portrait of a Family (Hardcover)

I have read some of their history in genealogy format, but I wanted to read the whole book on the family. I was not disappointed. It is everything I had hoped it would be and more. The genealogy had more information than I had before. Get this book for good reading. Thank you.

Karen Kay Ullom