The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters, edited by Charlotte Mosley
This was the book chosen by one of our group for the month over the Christmas period; at 800+ pages it made the Yellow Pages seem a mere pamphlet.
None of us was daunted though,as the book comprised (mainly) letters between the six Mitford sisters, (Diana, Jessica, Deborah, Pamela, Unity and Nancy) with a bit of narrative every so often to help us on our way.
Only on opening the book that night did I find pages and pages of family tree; notes and explanations; and list of nicknames used throughout the family. Each of the sisters had a name (obviously) and also a separate nickname for each of the others. So that’s 36 names to get used to, before embarking on page one.
Then there are the variations on the nicknames, to suit particular circumstances. Not a good start. These six sisters were a bunch of eccentric, isolated, but talented aristocrats, educated at home, who gossiped about some of the leading figures of the age like Hitler, Churchill, Kennedy, in an extraordinary mixture of posh slang and their own private language.
In desperation I sent an email to another of our group (whose surname happens to be Yule), in the style of Diana Mitford, and my spoof letter may reveal quite how bizarre these letters seemed to us in 21st century Forncett. I hope that the next book on our list (Barack Obama’s ‘Dreams from my father’) will come as light relief, once we have handed in the Mitford brick!
2nd January 2009
[Passed by prison censor]
Darlingistist Xmas (my new nick-name for you, spiffing isn’t it?)
I was surprised to get your lovely letter; I'm still involved with the letters between six sisters! What fun! I simply die for it to end, it’s too, too unbelievable. One doesn’t mind at all when one reads the new book, (One's Dreams from one's Farve). How common to be put on a waiting list with ORDINARY people who need to borrow!!! I am haunted by the idea that I might catch something horrid. I think if we are all going to be so terribly poor because of these naughty interest rates, we might just about manage to buy it, but nanny may have to live on bread and marge like simple people, or else I might sell the cream Fortuny gown for three and sixpence. Do let me know what Henderson thinks, and the others!!!
Christmas was a little quiet here, but darling Hetty (1) quite made up for it with her immensely hilarious tricks and silly things, but she is beginning to get awfully on my nerves when she scratches at the wainscoting.
DO WRITE again, if you can bear it, the weather is simply deadly and I mayn’t go out as the car is at the back of the garage and it puts the governor (2) in such a bate if I ask to have it brought round to the front door.
bestest-ist love from Suze (3), and the governor (2) and Het (1) and to the others.
(1) Hetty, the Leafs's new kitten
(2) The governor, Mr Leaf, the author’s wife.
(3) Mrs Leaf, the author.