My Thoughts
Marie Benedict’s The Mitford Affair is a page-turner of a historical novel into the fascinating lives and political choices of the famous Mitford sisters. The book brings readers into the lives of 1930s and 1940s upper society, where glamour, politics, and treachery mingle. The book seamlessly intertwines historical events and fiction, and readers learn from history and are entertained. The book raises intriguing questions for readers on questions of loyalty, ambition, and what happens because of our choices.
Summary
The story follows the lives of three of the six Mitford sisters, Diana, Unity, and Nancy, between the pre-World War II years. Diana, who had been the wife of the heir of the Guinness fortune, throws away her husband for Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists. Her sister, Unity, becomes besotted with Adolf Hitler and moves to live in Nazi Germany, hoping to be in his vicinity. Her other sister, a best-selling author, struggles with the political choices of the two of them and finds herself between familial obligation and what’s ethical.
As the action of the novel moves on, Diana and Unity are heavily committed to extreme political ideologies, their lives and their reputations on the line. Nancy, not being of their fascistic inclination, has a private fight with herself: should she be silent, or must she take on her very own sisters? With the outbreak of war, the lives of the Mitford sisters become more complex, and their choices leave their indelible mark.
Pacing
The pacing of The Mitford Affair stays even, and readers are engaged from cover to cover. The novel starts with the introduction of the Mitford sisters and their lives of luxury, and then proceeds into their politicized lives. The stakes rise and the pace becomes more urgent with intensifying tensions in Europe, and readers can’t stop reading. Benedict skillfully weaves historical reality and personal drama, and the book stays interesting and informational.
Characters
The Mitford sisters did live, and Benedict brings them alive very convincingly. Each of the two sisters has their own distinct personality, and they feel real and complex.
Diana Mitford – Gorgeous, ambitious, and committed to what she feels, Diana throws away her moneyed husband for fascistic leader Sir Oswald Mosley. She’s unshakeable in what she feels and isn’t afraid of losing everything for love and ideology.
Unity Mitford – The most extreme of the four, Unity becomes besotted with Hitler and moves to live in Nazi Germany in order to be with him. She idolizes the Nazi leader and refuses to be moved from what she believes.
Nancy Mitford – The sole sister not a believer in fascism, smart, witty, and morally ambiguous, Nancy, being a writer, looks at the world differently and has difficulty understanding why her sisters had gotten into such dangerous politics.
The book also contains real historical figures including Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, and Oswald Mosley, and this brings even more reality into the book.
Writing Style
Marie Benedict’s writing style is readable and beautiful. The historical accuracy and engaging storytelling are merged seamlessly, and readers who don’t know anything about the Mitford sisters can still read the novel. The natural-sounding dialog and setting and character descriptions are very effective. The emotional complexity of characters is also very skillfully described, and readers can understand their conflicts and motivations.
Themes
Politics and Power – The book addresses the ways in which political ideology can shape individual lives and relationships. The two different decisions made by the Mitford sisters find them on opposite sides of history.
Loyalty vs. Betrayal – The novel questions if being dedicated to the family must be more important than being morally accountable. The dilemma of betraying siblings of your very own for their political affiliations troubles Nancy.
The Cost of Choices – All of the Mitford sisters feel the consequences of their choices. The novel depicts the dangers of political extremism and the way ambitions can lead to disaster.
Historical Accuracy
One of the strongest assets of The Mitford Affair is its accuracy. Benedict conducted extensive research on the lives of the Mitford siblings and their connections with major historical events. There are fictionalized parts of the book for storytelling purposes, but events and characters’ development are real. Readers of historical novels will appreciate the detail and realism of the book.
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – The Mitford Affair is a page-turner and extensively researched historical novel that puts into the spotlight a scandalous and intriguing family. The novel is compelling and thought-provoking, and its status as a must-read for historical novel readers and WWII history aficionados speaks for itself.
About the Author
Marie Benedict is a best-selling historical novel author known for writing novels on remarkable women. Some of her other best-sellers include: The Only Woman in the Room: A novel of Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor. Carnegie’s Maid – A historical fiction novel about a woman working in the household of Andrew Carnegie. Lady Clementine: A novel of Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston Churchill. Benedict’s books also regularly investigate the lives of women in history, uncovering lost and unheralded narratives. Final Thoughts The Mitford Affair is a fascinating and masterfully penned novel, weaving history, politics, and family into its narrative. A must-read for historical novel readers, and for those with a specific interest in World War II and famous women, this novel becomes a lesson and a heartbreaker. Marie Benedict has such a way of bringing history alive, and this book becomes both.