You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
DNF. Did not need to read about someone falling in love with Hitler.
Marie Benedict can be hit or miss for me, so I started her newest book with some hesitation. The Mitfords have seemed to pop up on my radar from many directions over the past 6 months or so. I bought one of Jessica Mitford's books, Hons and Rebels, in England last summer before realizing that her exposé on the American funeral business had been on my TBR for a year. Mitfords have been mentioned or were side characters in many historical fiction books I've been reading as well. So when I saw that the new Benedict book was Mitford related, I picked it up. This book was solidly good. It dragged a little in the middle and lacked some momentum at times. The main conflict centers around fascism and several Mitford sisters being obsessed with Hitler. I didn't know that there was a fascist organization in Britain before WWII. That part of the book was really interesting.
I’ve been interested in the Mitford sisters for a long time but there was absolutely no need for the Hitler adoration in this book. I couldn’t finish it was so disturbing. The point could have been made without the details and offensive speech that went unchecked.
This is Benedict’s best yet. It has so much heart, so much voice, and pitch-perfect examination of issues which haunt all of us now. Yes, you can read it as simply WWII build up historical fiction, or you can read it and think—ah. Not that you understand it all, but you see how it can happen, blind devotion to a “supreme” leader. And ask yourself, what-would-you-do. All with voices which stay well within their own character and time. Excellent.
I do wonder how much more I understood since I’d read of these sisters? There’s not a historical note. Anyway, fascinating, detailed look of just the applicable period and actions.
I do wonder how much more I understood since I’d read of these sisters? There’s not a historical note. Anyway, fascinating, detailed look of just the applicable period and actions.
Content warnings: character who practically worships Hitler, Nazis, fascism, communism, miscarriage, attempted suicide, imprisonment, betrayal
The Mitfords are a notorious group of six English sisters who lived at the beginning of the twentieth century. Eldest sister Nancy is famous for her wit and novels, but she longs for marriage and children. Diana is unhappily married with children and seeks freedom from her husband, which leads her to fascism. Unity and Jessica shared a bedroom when younger, and each is a staunch adherent to communism and fascism, respectively. Pamela marries a fascist, which makes her more interesting in the eyes of Diana and Unity. Deborah is too young to feature much in the novel, and their brother Tom is also a minor character.
Narration mainly switches between Nancy, Diana, and Unity. The book focuses on Nancy's writing, Diana's association with the British Union of Fascists which becomes increasingly unbreakable as the novel progresses, and Unity's friendship with Adolf Hitler and rise within the Nazi party. Both Nancy and Diana's marriages and divorces also are key story elements.
The novel shows how fascism started as a potential benefit for British society to a violent party during the rise of Hitler. In the beginning stages of the Second World War, Hitler and Germany were often covered in the press as a German success story and liberators of Austria. Although the Treaty of Versailles was violated, the rest of Europe stood back because they didn't want to get involved. Communism was on the rise in Spain, and the growing fascist threat in Italy wasn't perceived as much danger until they allied with Germany.
The Mitfords' nonsensical names for each other can sometimes make the book hard to follow. For example, Jessica is Decca and Unity is Bobo or Boud. Other nicknames like Debo for Deborah and Naunce for Nancy are easier to understand.
Recommended for historical fiction readers who like to learn more about history rather than having connections to the characters.
Representation: divorced woman in the 1930s
I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read the review here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/mitford-affair
The Mitfords are a notorious group of six English sisters who lived at the beginning of the twentieth century. Eldest sister Nancy is famous for her wit and novels, but she longs for marriage and children. Diana is unhappily married with children and seeks freedom from her husband, which leads her to fascism. Unity and Jessica shared a bedroom when younger, and each is a staunch adherent to communism and fascism, respectively. Pamela marries a fascist, which makes her more interesting in the eyes of Diana and Unity. Deborah is too young to feature much in the novel, and their brother Tom is also a minor character.
Narration mainly switches between Nancy, Diana, and Unity. The book focuses on Nancy's writing, Diana's association with the British Union of Fascists which becomes increasingly unbreakable as the novel progresses, and Unity's friendship with Adolf Hitler and rise within the Nazi party. Both Nancy and Diana's marriages and divorces also are key story elements.
The novel shows how fascism started as a potential benefit for British society to a violent party during the rise of Hitler. In the beginning stages of the Second World War, Hitler and Germany were often covered in the press as a German success story and liberators of Austria. Although the Treaty of Versailles was violated, the rest of Europe stood back because they didn't want to get involved. Communism was on the rise in Spain, and the growing fascist threat in Italy wasn't perceived as much danger until they allied with Germany.
The Mitfords' nonsensical names for each other can sometimes make the book hard to follow. For example, Jessica is Decca and Unity is Bobo or Boud. Other nicknames like Debo for Deborah and Naunce for Nancy are easier to understand.
Recommended for historical fiction readers who like to learn more about history rather than having connections to the characters.
Representation: divorced woman in the 1930s
I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read the review here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/mitford-affair
challenging
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish the first half was shorter and the second half longer... Just took a while for the story to get going. Definitely a perspective I haven't heard before.
4.5 stars
Wowza!! I had heard about the Mitford sisters and that they were English, but that's all I really knew.
So this book was a mindblower!! Pre-WWII England and Germany, Fascism, Communism, Spanish Civil War, and the drama of family plus MUCH more! This book has it all! But, I don't want to say much and give it away! Do yourself a favor and look up the Mitford sister's faces ONLY - that helped me keep them straight in my mind, but don't research them or you WILL get spoilers!
Since I didn't know much about the Mitford sisters, it was difficult initially to figure out who the main characters were - especially as they had pet names for each other and almost everyone in their lives! Once I wrapped my brain around it all, it was all good!
This is the third book that I have read by Marie Benedict and it won't be the last. I love, love, love history so this book was totally up my alley. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite!
DEFINITE recommend
Wowza!! I had heard about the Mitford sisters and that they were English, but that's all I really knew.
So this book was a mindblower!! Pre-WWII England and Germany, Fascism, Communism, Spanish Civil War, and the drama of family plus MUCH more! This book has it all! But, I don't want to say much and give it away! Do yourself a favor and look up the Mitford sister's faces ONLY - that helped me keep them straight in my mind, but don't research them or you WILL get spoilers!
Since I didn't know much about the Mitford sisters, it was difficult initially to figure out who the main characters were - especially as they had pet names for each other and almost everyone in their lives! Once I wrapped my brain around it all, it was all good!
This is the third book that I have read by Marie Benedict and it won't be the last. I love, love, love history so this book was totally up my alley. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite!
DEFINITE recommend
What a family! Wow. This was a great book, and honestly a bit frightening. Taking place into the late 30s and early 40s, we follow the Mitford sisters into various paths as they navigate through the chaotic politics of the approaching second world war. I found Diana’s and Unity’s chapters to be quite horrifying as the two of them become obsessed and integrated in fascism to the point where it becomes their life. Unity even has feelings for Hitler, who is a character in the book as well, and that was just… very uncomfortable, since he is portrayed as a “gentleman” in Unity’s view. I just was shocked but it was real life. Another sister, Jessica, becomes obsessed with communism and it’s all just horrifying. I enjoyed Nancy’s pov a lot as hers is the main one and she has to deal with personal issues as well as seeing her sisters suffer because of their extreme views. It’s a fascinating read on very real women who took different roads in life. It makes you question how would you feel if you were Nancy. Really tumultuous yet family is everything in this book. 4 stars for this one!