Jessica Mitford's dashing and dramatic life story is almost too good to be true from a biography standpoint--and she's so utterly appealing that I think I have a bit of crush on her. My favorite part about this book was the author's description of her childhood. 7 … On to Debo's memoir! This book reads like a love letter to Esmond Romilly...seen through rose tinted glasses of the past and of a first love. pics: getty. Funny, sarcastic, and playful, she is a forerunner to Michael Moore. I was actually a little surprised by the short length until I realized she stopped the story at about age twenty; then it made sense. My fondness for it most likely arises from the fact that the book overall very much reads like fiction. He seemed to have a dilettantish interest in fascism and social justice, and really struck me as being sort of naive and clueless. Decca's prose is funny and wry, yet straightforward, making this autobiography approachable and quick. The first half was pretty good, though parts did come across as quite childish. I read The American Way of Death at the urging of the old man in high school (and adored it) -- Mitford was quite au courant then, and was one of those great mid-century writers who sought to revolutionize reportage... the Capotes and the Wolfes and the Hunter Thompsons and the Didions. Hons and Rebels is an enchanting and deeply absorbing memoir of an isolated and eccentric upbringing which conceals beneath its witty, light-hearted surface much wisdom and depth of feeling. Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. Hons and Rebels is Jessica Mitford’s hilarious and moving memoir about her childhood in her eccentric English family and her dramatic elopement and mar riage to a dashing, charismat-ic young journalist. Jessica. 'More than an extremely amusing autobiography ... she has evoked a whole generation' Sunday Times I have to say I'm rapidly falling prey to Mitford mania, to the point where I've spent the last twenty minutes listing call numbers to check next time I'm at the library (i.e. Walter Isaacson, it’s safe to say, is not afraid of tackling the really big topics. But this one resonated with me, partly because I have 4 sisters myself and I could vaguely recognize some of the dynamics in a group of siblings, partly because I have recently found myself reading quite a few books which took place around the time of WW2. 262 pages. This is a book about choosing your fate rather than the one allotted you, which for the Mitford girls was another chilly country house with Mr Right or “the Duke of … Jessica Mitford grew up in a genteel but eccentric family in the English countryside. And then I have an inner snob who enjoys all things related to the British upper class And I can see that I'm not alone in enjoying Jessica Mitford's writing. Refresh and try again. Poignant, insightful, interesting - and left me wanting to find out more about, Just a little bit (a lot) in love with Decca <3, Jessica Mitford's dashing and dramatic life story is almost too good to be true from a biography standpoint--and she's so utterly appealing that I think I have a bit of crush on her. If anyone asked me who my favourite Mitford was it would be Nancy every time, the most fascinating was Diana, but the one I would have most likely liked in real life - would have been Jessica. She devoted her life to fighting fascism, even while 2 of her sisters became close associates of Adolf Hitler. Jessica Mitford was the "Ballroom Communist" of the engagingly eccentric Mitford Family. After a gripping tale of Decca's escape to Civil War Spain with her cousin, the teenaged antifascist Esmond Romilly, the book runs out of gas as the young couple goes to America and stumbles from one survival scheme to the next. The picture of her wacky childhood is charmingly told albeit somewhat terrifying to contemplate - I could have used more about each Mitford sister and more insight into how this teeming brood of aristos wound up careening off in wildly different directions. Hons and rebels Item Preview > remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. I've never paid much attention to Jessica 'Decca' Mitford, and this book doesn't really make me want to. Her sisters, too, were quite enigmatic in the book, and I wonder if Decca really understood them when she was writing. Like J.K. Rowling, I worship Jessica "Decca" Mitford. Unity befriended Nazi leader Hitler,[3] who praised her as an ideal of Aryan beauty. I really enjoyed this book. . If anyone asked me who my favourite Mitford was it would be Nancy every time, the most fascinating was Diana, but the one I would have most likely liked in real life - would have been Jessica. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. . It comes across as quite flat. Amazon.in - Buy Hons and Rebels: The Mitford Family Memoir (W&N Essentials) book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in. Jessica was a supporter of Communism and eloped with her second cousin, Esmond Romilly, to fight with the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War,[2] and Diana grew up to marry Sir Oswald Mosley, the leader of the British Union of Fascists. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Thank you. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. I don't love Jessica for her political convinctions -- I love her for her writing talent. Hons and Rebels is an enchanting and deeply absorbing memoir of an isolated and eccentric upbringing which conceals beneath its witty, lighthearted surface much wisdom and depth of feeling. Her sisters included Nancy, doyenne of the 1920s London smart set and a noted novelist and biographer; Diana, wife to the English fascist chief Sir Oswald Mosley; Unity, who fell head over in heels in love with Hitler; and Deborah, later the Duchess of Devonshire. Hons and Rebels is an autobiography by political activist Jessica Mitford, which describes her aristocratic childhood and the conflicts between her and her sisters Unity and Diana, who were ardent supporters of Nazism. (For those not familiar, one became an author, another a farmer, one a Nazi, one a Fascist, another a duchess and finally, Jessica, who wrote "Hons and Rebels" -- who became a Communist with plans to fight in the Spanish Civil War before she eloped and headed off to America where she fought for social justice. The first part is hilarious, containing a first-hand description of the goings on at the well known dysfunctional aristocratic family in England between 1920 - 1930's. At that age, what and who you are depends largely on what book you happen to be reading at the moment.”, “I discovered that Human Nature was not, as I had always supposed, a fixed and unalterable entity, that wars are not caused by a natural urge in men to fight, that ownership of land and factories is not necessarily the natural reward of greater wisdom and energy.”. . Debo spent silent hours in the chicken house learning to do an exact imitation of the look of pained concentration that comes over a hen’s face when it is laying an egg. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. . A historical perspective on how race, education and culture shaped the society and life of Jessica Mitford: "Usually the events which make history seem to take an interminable time when one is living through them". She gained American citizenship in later life. Hons and Rebels. Hons and Rebels book. Jessica Mitford, or “Decca,” was one of the legendary Mitford sisters: Nancy, who was a cel- Always wishing for an escape from her family, be it through schooling or politics or moving to another continent, she suffered through being a deb and presentation before the queen and watching her family come apart at the seems due to adivergence in beliefs. My favourite has always been Nancy, because I love her biographies of French political figures. Aristocratic and hilariously eccentric upbringing, one of the famous/infamous Mitford sisters (their number including a noted writer in Nancy, not one but TWO Nazis, and a communist--that's Jessica), elopement with her dreamy second cousin and their travels to go fight in the Spanish Civil War, emmigrating to America on next to no money, romantic slumming around the USA...you really could not make a lot of this stuff up. The Hons' Cupboard, where Debo and I spent much of our time, still has the same distinctive, stuffy smell and enchanting promise of complete privacy from the Grown-ups. ‘Hons and Rebels reads like a comic novel, except the characters would be judged too outlandish. In all a disappointment with flashes of insight and humor. Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. Have to admit "Hons" catches the eye more. How might Jessica's life have been changed if she had been allowed to go to school? . The best kind of memoir - one whose author can write with real flair and humour, and whose life was truly pretty amazing. And the dashing Esmond little better than a smarmy conman in the US. Bibliographic Details; Hons and rebels. If I had a daughter, I'd name her after Jessica, who was born into an aristocratic family, ran away with her hunky Communist cousin to fight in the Spanish Civil War, emigrated to the United States without a penny, and became a muckraking journalist with no formal schooling. Previous page. There are a few really funny bits, but, like, let’s be real - it’s no Pursuit of Love. My mouth was agape the entire time I read HONS AND REBELS...it seemed incredible that Mitford's story wasn't fiction. Jessica was a supporter of Communism and eloped with her second cousin, Esmond Romilly, to fight with the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War, and Diana grew up to marry Sir Oswald Mosley, the leader of the British Union of … It comes across as quite flat. It's quite surprising that I hadn't read this book before - as I have become a little addicted to reading about the mad bad Mitfords. If I had a daughter, I'd name her after Jessica, who was born into an aristocratic family, ran away with her hunky Communist cousin to fight in the Spanish Civil War, emigrated to the United States without a penny, and became a muckraking journalist with no formal schooling. Why or why not? in a half hour or so). But at her first chance she ran off with her cousin, Esmond Rommilly , the nephew of Winston Churchill, to fight Franco in Spain. My favourite has always been Nancy, because I love her biographies of French political figures. The first half was pretty good, though parts did come across as quite childish. We're told in an author footnote(!) She went on to become a Socialist and a muckraking reporter; her sister Nancy mocked the aristocracy in a series of satirical novels, and two other sisters became Nazis and members of Hitler's inner circle. Does anyone or book club have discussion questions on Hon and Rebels by Jessica Mitford? . Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. Uniform title: Daughters and rebels: Imprint Daughters and rebels by Jessica Mitford, September 1, 2004, Victor Gollancz edition, Paperback in English - New Ed edition Hons and Rebels (September 1, 2004 edition) | Open Library Donate ♥ "In the windows, still to be seen, are swastikas carved into the glass with a diamond ring, and for every swastika a carefully delineated hammer and sickle. As such, she was keen to seek the advice of Mitford, a writer herself by then and author of the memoir, Hons and Rebels. by NYRB Classics. Her warmth and likability come across strongly in this book, and she was able to poke gentle. We’d love your help. Hons and Rebels is an enchanting and deeply absorbing memoir of an isolated and eccentric upbringing which conceals beneath its witty, lighthearted surface much wisdom and depth of feeling. Jessica tells of her life and her family from, Like J.K. Rowling, I worship Jessica "Decca" Mitford. But this one resonated with me, partly because I have 4 sisters myself and I could vaguely recognize some of the dynamics in a group of siblings, partly because I have recently found myself reading quite a few books which took place around the time of WW2. She devoted her life to fighting fascism, even while. One gets a different perspective of the Mitfords, a perspective from within. When World War II breaks out in earnest, Esmond drives off to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the book abruptly ends. The second half, detailing after she met Esmond, who didn't come across well at all, mainly being a semi con-man or a man trying to achieve 'the American Dream' and failing quite miserably, was incredibly boring. Jessica Lucy Freeman-Mitford was an English author, journalist and political campaigner, who was one of the Mitford sisters. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford’s upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional… Debo spent silent hours in the chicken house learning to do an exact imitation of the look of pained concentration that comes over a hen’s face when it is laying an egg… . Can you relate to how bored Jessica must have been growing up? Her sisters included Nancy, doyenne of the 1920s London smart... Free Shipping on all orders over $10. Regrettably, Jessica Mitford doesn't seem to be much-remembered nowadays. I read this quite hungrily because I needed a Mitford fix and I couldn't get the Sisters bio on kindle. Her warmth and likability come across strongly in this book, and she was able to poke gentle fun at herself, at the same time. Read 317 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. In 2011, he wrote about our ubiquitous computer culture... Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. Her sisters included Nancy, doyenne of the 1920s London smart set and a noted novelist and biographer; Diana, wife to the English fascist chief Sir Oswald Mosley; Unity, who fell head over in heels in love with Hitler; and Deborah, later the Duchess of Devonshire. I admire Decca's tenacity and determination in this half, but it jumped from "we met up with blah blah and talked and played cards all night" to "we had no money and could barely afford a glass of water in a cafe". It felt quite disjointed. Didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped -- apparently I'm not the biggest Decca fan. Hons and Rebels. Hons and Rebels, originally published in the United States under the title Daughters and Rebels,[1] is an autobiography by political activist Jessica Mitford, which describes her aristocratic childhood and the conflicts between her and her sisters Unity and Diana, who were ardent supporters of Nazism. In this collection they have moved away from whimsical previous collections, into tribal, animalistic, arcaic territory. Share to Twitter. There were 6 '. Don't get me wrong, though. It's quite surprising that I hadn't read this book before - as I have become a little addicted to reading about the mad bad Mitfords. Debo spent silent hours in the chicken house learning to do an exact imitation of the look of pained concentration that comes over a hen's face when it is laying an egg. By turns hilarious and poignant, Jessica Mitford's account of her formative years is a classic. I really enjoyed seeing pre-war America through their eyes. . Print length. Rodarte. I can't believe how moved I was by this book. Her account of their childhood world is fascinating and hilarious and reminds me a little of my own odd family. This is a really well written, funny memoir from one of those infamous sisters. As others have noted there's something a bit flat here and I was surprisingly a bit disappointed. A spotty memoir that glides over much of the author's early life while providing details on some seemingly random episodes. Unity comes across as grotesque but it's never really explored. Share to Facebook. Her sisters included Nancy, doyenne of the 1920s London smart set and a noted novelist and biographer; Diana, wife to the English fascist chief Sir Oswald Mosley; Unity, who fell head over in heels in love with Hitler; and Deborah, later the Duchess of Devonshire. Why or why not? Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. . The second youngest daughter of the 2nd Baron Redesdalee, she had an unconventional upbringing where education was the bare minimum to make a good wife. Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitf ord is probably my very favourite memoir (though the devotee of fiction I am, I must admit haven’t read very many). Critic Reviews Jessica is so interesting and her childhood dream of running away is realised with sheer guts and determination. They were put there by my sister Unity and myself when we were children. Jessica Mitford might have been surprised to learn that her memoir, Hons and Rebels , was being dubbed a “medical classic.” The book, first published half a century ago, describes the life of her large (she was one of seven children), eccentric, aristocratic family in the years between the first and second world wars. I have a little bit of an obsession with the six Mitford sisters, mainly because I find it fascinating that six aristocratic British girls grew up and took such divergent paths. 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