Imperial Fascist League 265
Inch Kenneth 287, 300, 304, 311, 312, 386–7, 389, 393; ownership passed to sisters and dispute over Decca’s share 400–3, 456; Sydney’s life tenancy and family visits 403, 418, 435, 437–8, 474; Unity taken ill there 410, 411–12; ghosts 439, 465; Nancy gives Decca her share 462; Decca buys 462, 466, 472; closed in winter 473–4; sold 483–4
International Brigade 218–19, 220
International Sportsman’s Club 114
Irish Georgian Society 525
Ivanhoe (Walter Scott) 23
Jackson, Sir Charles 214
Jackson, Derek Ainslie 261, 269, 453; background and engagement to Pam 214–15; and riding 215, 403; marriage and loss of twin brother 216; trip to New York 291–2; war service 301, 327, 342, 382; pressure from government over Mosleys 379, 380–1; move to Ireland 419–20; affair and divorce 420; subsequent marriages, career and character 420–1, 427; continues friendship with Mitfords 482, 500
Jackson, Pamela see Mitford, Pamela
Jackson, Rose 420
Jackson, Vivian Ainslie 214, 216, 217
James, Edward and Ottilie 141
Jebb, Julian 507
Jew Süss (Leon Feuchtwanger) 121–2, 495
Jockey Club 525
John, Augustus 127, 131, 214
John, Poppet 214
Johnson, Lyndon and Lady Bird 337
Kearsey family 24
Kee, Janetta 420
Keenan, Brigid 484
Kellgren, Dr 31
Kennedy, Joe 340, 387
Kennedy, John 340, 384, 410, 471, 477, 480
Kennedy, Joseph 334, 387
Kennedy, Kathleen (‘Kick’) 334–5, 340, 383–4, 387–8, 410–11
Kennedy, Robert 471, 480
Kennedy, Rose 384, 387, 388, 411
Kenny, Elizabeth 31
Keppel, Mrs 163
Kersey, Lily (‘Ninny’) 22
Khrushchev report 447–8
Kind and Usual Punishment (Jessica Mitford) 481
King, Martin Luther 471
‘King Alfred’s jewel’ 96
Koch family 297–8
Kristallnacht 263
Kruger, Paul 13
Ku Klux Klan 429, 471
Labour Party 133, 134, 255, 264, 421
Lady 16–17, 19, 62, 113–14, 240, 246
Lamb, Henry 142
Lappe, Pele de 449, 465–6, 487, 494
Laroche, Baroness 167, 171
Lawrence, T.E. 115–16
Lees-Milne, James 71–2, 84, 216, 394, 491, 502, 512, 516, 529; on callous streak in Mitfords 354; love for Diana 81, 80, 94; on Mosley 136–7, 503–4; on Nancy 353, 354, 356; relationship with Tom 390–3, 509
Letitia, SS 202
Liberté, SS 437
Life 282, 470–1, 506
Life of Contrasts, A (Diana Mosley) 501–2
Lindemann, Frederick, later Lord Cherwell 91–2, 93, 108, 127, 174, 214, 327, 420
Lismore Castle 419, 459, 494
Little Hut, The (trans. Nancy Mitford) 453
Lloyd George, David 323
Lockers Park Preparatory School 42
London: Connaught Hotel 357; Gay Hussar 460; Heywood Hill’s bookshop 353, 394, 465–6; Mitford residences 33,102–3, 109, 126, 146, 150, 199, 200, 213, 273, 323, 330; Rotherhithe 254–5, 258, 264, 278; Speaker’s Corner 165, 190–1; wartime 288–9, 300, 301–2, 330–1, 389–90; see also Rutland Gate
Longford, Lord see Pakenham, Frank
Lothian, Lord 320
Love in a Cold Climate (Nancy Mitford) 57–8, 185, 399, 424, 450; BBC production 507; see also ‘Matthew, Uncle’
Loved One, The (Evelyn Waugh) 407
Loved Ones (Diana Mosley) 506
Ludwig I, king 175
Lutyens, Mary see Sewell, Mary
Lyons Corner House 220
McCarthy, Joseph 408, 430
MacDonald, Dr Flora 474–5
MacDonald, Ramsay 135
McGee, Willie and Rosalie 429–30
McGibbon, James 463–4, 465, 478
McGillvray, Mr and Mrs 473, 474
MacKinnon family 327
Macmillan, Harold 472
Madame de Pompadour (Nancy Mitford) 450
Malcolm House 37
Marais, Le (château) 485
Marlborough, Gladys, Duchess of 104
‘Matthew, Uncle’ (fictional character) 16, 27–8, 29, 57–9, 424
Maugham, Somerset 218
Meade, Edward (‘Jimmy’) 13, 15
Mercer-Nairne, Margaret 108
Metcalfe, Alexandra (‘Baba’) 146, 156, 157, 197, 198, 199, 200, 274–5, 320, 321, 363
Metcalfe, Major ‘Fruity’ 146, 156
Meyer, Eugene 281, 315–16, 337
Middleton, George (‘Bay’) 25
Mirams, Miss 41, 42, 89
Mississippi 429
Mitford, Algernon Bertram (‘Bertie’), 1st Lord Redesdale (grandfather) 9, 11, 24, 25–6, 33, 37, 40, 42, 44, 45; illness and death 37–8; Memories 40
Mitford, Clement (uncle) 11, 14, 35, 38
Mitford, Clementine, née Ogilvy, Lady Redesdale (grandmother) 24–5, 39, 40
Mitford, Clementine, later Lady Beit (cousin) 36, 47–8, 94, 119, 246, 247, 498
Mitford, David Freeman, 2nd Lord Redesdale (father): appearance 15, 114; character 11, 15, 19, 20, 27–8, 58–9, 69–74, 104, 245, 436; childhood, education and meeting with Sydney 9, 11–12, 13–15, 126; early career 12, 13–14, 16; military career and injuries 13–14, 33, 34–8; early marriage 15–16; depicted as ‘Uncle Matthew’ 16, 27–8, 29, 57–9, 424; attitude to books 16, 45; births of children 17–18, 20, 22, 33, 41, 47, 110; and animals 27, 28–9, 109; gold-mining venture 31–3, 97–8; death of brother 35, 36; relationship with children 36–7, 87; death of father and inheritance 38, 39–40; attitude to girls’ education 41, 52–3, 57, 105, 116–17; relationship with wife 41–2; and mealtimes 43; buys Asthall Manor 44; riding accident 47; and hare-coursing 48; and church-going 49–50; and House of Lords 57, 88, 246; local duties 57; and chubb fuddling 57–8; distrust of outsiders 69; behaviour with Nancy’s friends 69–73; rows with Nancy 73–4; replaces Asthall with Swinbrook House and townhouse 78–9, 82, 86–7; shooting trips to Scotland 88; reaction to daughters’ engagements 95, 96, 97, 102; dislike of Bright Young People 111; financial difficulties 113, 201; love of skating 114, 192–3; children’s nicknames for 124; reaction to Diana’s relationship with Mosley 145, 150, 157, 198–9, 212, 260, 413; attitude to sons-in-law 152, 269; reaction to daughters’ links with Nazis 162, 189, 192, 193; visits Germany 181, 192–3, 243, 253; reaction to Decca’s elopement 227, 230–1, 234, 237, 243–4; meets Hitler 269; and press publicity 274, 313–14; buys Inch Kenneth 287; and Unity 291; attitude to Germany 293, 300; split with Sydney over her Fascism 310–12, 332, 399–400; poor health 311–12, 332, 333–4, 340, 376–7, 386; stays with Nancy in London 331; re-opens contact with Decca 386; and Tom’s death 393, 394–5; reconciliation with Mosleys 394, 413, 400, 459; helps Nancy open bookshop 396; and Redesdale Cottage 399–400, 410, 436; still sees Sydney 436; death 454–6; will 456, 462; depicted in Hons and Rebels 467, 468
Mitford, Deborah Freeman (‘Debo’), later Mrs Andrew Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire: birth (youngest child) 47; appearance 273, 419; character 54–5, 126, 242, 477, 479; childhood 28, 34–5, 47–52, 59, 69–70, 72, 73, 88–91, 95–6, 99–100, 103, 152–3; and outdoor pursuits 47, 106, 335; founder member of Society of Hons 51–2; relationship with sisters 52, 54–5; education 56, 76, 81, 86, 117, 167; relationship with mother 59, 60; trips abroad 81, 202–4, 242–3, 244, 419, 423; pets 81, 109; love of Swinbrook House 86, 91, 118, 232; first-class skater 114; infatuation with Derek Jackson 215; sues Daily Express 230; effect of Decca’s elopment and other family traumas 232, 238, 241–2, 293, 333–4, 499–500; meets Hitler 244; coming out 244, 245–6, 266; humour 245–6; secretly visits Decca 260–1; secretly visits the Mosleys with Andrew Cavendish 272–3; social life and work during war 301, 303, 335; e
ngagement to Andrew 303–4, 335, 336; helps to fetch Unity from Switzerland 305–7; wedding 338–40; first child stillborn 342, 352–3; births of Emma and Peregrine 377, 382, 385; Andrew becomes heir to dukedom 388–9; depicted in The Pursuit of Love 395; miscarriages 406, 454; move to Edensor 421–2, 423; and Chatsworth 422–3, 424, 515, 526–8; reunions with Decca 428, 437–8, 440, 494; birth of Sophia 454; visits Kennedy 471; opposition to biography of Unity and dispute with Decca 495–500, 509; protective of family 495–6, 499–500; publishes books on Chatsworth 515; golden wedding 515; and Pam’s death 518–19; as entrepreneur 527
Mitford, Diana, later Guinness, then Mosley: birth 22 (fourth child); appearance 22, 65, 66, 80, 93–4, 130; character 65–6, 477; childhood 23–5, 27–31, 33–5, 37, 41, 43, 44–5, 47–52; education 41, 42, 43, 56; sensitivity to ghosts 44, 126–7; and riding 47; and dancing lessons 53–4; horrified at thought of school or Guides 54; unhappiness and boredom 59, 60, 65, 86, 92; admirers 71, 80, 111; attendance at finishing school in Paris ends in disgrace 79–82, 83–6; visits to Chartwell 83, 91–2; nicknames 85; pet snake incident 90; prevented from learning German 92; coming out 93–4; engagement to Bryan Guinness 94–5, 97, 98; wedding and honeymoon 99–101; London homes 102–3, 126; early visits to Germany and first contact with Nazis 106–7, 159–62; social life 108–9, 110–12, 127, 130–1; births of Jonathan and Desmond 110, 127; affair with Mosley 131–2, 141–6, 153–7, 164–5, 197–200; growing interest in social conditions 132–3; leaves Bryan 144–6; rift with family over Mosley 145, 150, 157, 198–9, 212, 260, 413; divorce 150, 153–4, 156; and Cimmie Mosley’s death 155–7; visits Lord Berners in Rome 162–3; joins Unity in Munich to learn German 174–6; alleged remark on Streicher 191; reaction to Wigs on the Green 193–4, 196–7, 212; attends 1935 Nuremberg rally and meets Hitler and Streicher 197; car accident 198, 199; abortion 199–200; secretly marries Mosley in Germany and moves to Wootton Lodge 200–1, 211–12, 213–14, 216; increasing contact with Nazis and meetings with Hitler 204–5, 206–8, 210, 248, 250, 252, 253, 268, 287–9, 321–2, 501; discusses Hitler with Churchill 205; acts as intermediary for BUF’s Air Time project 208–10, 253–4, 273, 321–2; supports Decca after elopement 231; stays friends with Bryan 256; dispute with Decca 264; births of Alexander and Max 272–3, 289, 303, 320; marriage made public 273–5; and Unity 286, 309; and photograph of Hitler 289–90; on concept of Mosley becoming Fascist overlord of Britain 322–3; arrest and imprisonment 324–7, 328–30, 335–6, 349, 353, 359–60, 362–5, 501, 505, 516; relationship with Nancy 325, 353, 453; appeal against imprisonment 360–2; release triggers protests 374–5, 376–81; temporary move to Shipton-under-Wychwood 381; new home at Crux Eaton 381–2, 413–14; and Tom’s death 393–4; reconciliation with father 394, 400, 413, 459; move to Crowood House 414–15; Mediterranean trip 418–19; move to Ireland and loss of Clonfert 419–20, 457–9; move to France 427, 459; and father’s death 454–6; success of marriage 459; as editor and reviewer 460; dislikes isolation of Inch Kenneth 474; and Nancy’s illness 486–8, 489; hostile to biography of Unity 496, 498; autobiography 501–2; subsequent books 502–3, 506; becomes ill after Mosley’s death 504–5; appears in documentary on Nancy 507–8; tries to stop stepson’s book on Mosley 510; holidays with Pam 515–16; controversy over Desert Island Discs appearance 516–17; on Hitler 516; 90th birthday and life in Paris 525–6
Mitford, Helen (aunt) 35, 253, 261
Mitford, Jack (uncle) 11, 114, 232
Mitford, Jessica Lucy Freeman (‘Decca’), later Romilly, then Treuhaft: birth (sixth child) 41–2; appearance 158, 178; character 158, 513; childhood 44–5, 46, 47–52, 77–8, 88–91, 95–6, 99, 103–4; problem with riding 48, 49, 65–6, 303; and family teasing 50, 54, 72, 73; and Society of Hons 51–2; relationship with sisters 52; boredom and rebelliousness 52, 56–7, 103, 104–6, 157–9, 180–1, 204, 217–18; education at home creates dissatisfaction 52, 56–7, 76, 81, 116–17; relationship with Nancy 54, 65, 149, 165, 170–1, 233–4, 260, 462; relationship with mother 59–60, 61–2; relationship with father 69, 103–4, 122–4, 243–4; pets 77–8, 81, 99, 109, 110, 122, 279; dance classes end in disgrace 78; on Diana’s character 94–5; develops interest in social politics 117–19, 121, 122, 164; closeness to Unity 118, 122, 173, 190, 191, 203–4, 257–8, 260, 283, 312, 350–1; friendship with Idden Farrer 120–1, 122; reaction to Peter Rodd 152–3; finishing year in Paris 165–6, 171; and Communism 165, 166, 177–8, 204, 255, 350; intrigued by Esmond Romilly 170, 179–80; visits Germany 174, 176, 177; coming-out 178–80; more trips abroad 202–4, 212–13; meets Esmond and runs away to Spain 218–37; finances 234, 239–40, 277–9, 281–2, 351; pregnancy and marriage 237–40, 243, 245, 254–6; and domestic chores 238, 259, 404–5; home in Rotherhithe 254–5, 258; manner of speech 255; market research job and reaction to working-class people 255, 276; plunders homes of rich friends 256; birth and death of Julia 258–60; parents forbid family to visit her 260–1; hostility to Diana 260, 264, 349, 350–1, 374–5, 383, 440, 446, 464, 470, 483 486–8, 494, 500, 503, 506, 516; activism 263–4; abortion 270–2; political vision 276–7; move to Edgware Road 278; emigration and farewell raid on Eton College 278–81; American friendships 281, 283, 317–18; jobs 281–2, 291–2, 314, 316, 319, 365–9, 385, 448; move to Greenwich village 282; visited by Pam 291; correspondence with family 301–2, 304, 310, 339–42, 382–3, 385–7, 395, 403, 432; move to Washington 302–3; depicted in Pigeon Pie 310; and American press 312–13, 375–6; move to Miami 314–17; and Esmond’s enlistment 317–18; pregnancy and birth of Constancia (Dinky) 318, 319, 337–8; correspondence with Esmond 318–19, 337–8, 342–5; visits Esmond in Canada 320, 341; miscarriage 343; takes stenography course 343, 350, 352; and Esmond’s death 345–52; meeting with Churchill and reaction to his gift 347–50; work for OPA 365, 366–7, 369, 370, 372; meets Bob Treuhaft and moves to San Francisco 366–72; investigated by FBI 372, 448; marries Bob 372–4; and US citizenship 374, 403; letter to Churchill about Mosleys 375–6; joins Communist Party 376; births of Nicholas and Benjamin 385, 405–6, 408; and Tom’s death 393, 394–5; causes rift over Inch Kenneth 401–3; mother’s visit 406–8; and civil rights 408, 428–30, 447, 448, 471; and Unity’s death 412–13; refused passport 418, 428, 432–3; Debo’s visit 428; subpoenaed by Committee on Un-American activities 430–2; and death of Nicholas 433–4; passport mistake enables trip to UK and Europe 434–46; passport confiscated on return 446; leaves Communist Party 448; publishes booklet 449; receives Romilly inheritance 449–50, 462; return of passport and trip to England 450; jealous of Nancy’s trip to Russia 453; cut out of father’s will 456, 462; purchase of Inch Kenneth 462; trip to England and publication of Hons and Rebels 462–71; relationship with Bob 463, 483; subsequent books and articles 471, 472, 477–81, 506–7, 513, 514; visit to Inch Kenneth and row with mother over book 472–3; and mother’s death 475–6; trips to Europe 482–3, 494; sells Inch Kenneth 483–4; comment on sisters 484; and Nancy’s illness 486–8, 489–90; accepts academic posts 493–4; involvement in biography of Unity causes rift with sisters 494–500; relationship with Debo 495–7, 499–500, 509; and Diana’s sons 500–1, 510–11; subject of BBC documentary 507; guest on Desert Island Discs 507; causes further rift over documentary on Nancy 508–9; reaction to books about Mitfords 510–13; stroke, and alcohol and smoking problems 513–14, 519–21; trip to Russia 514; and Salman Rushdie case 514–15; and Pam’s death 517–19; illness, death and memorial services 521–4; see also American Way of Birth, The; American Way of Death, The; Faces of Philip; Grace Had an English Heart; Hons and Rebels; Kind and Usual Punishment; Poison Penmanship
Mitford, Joan see Farrer, Joan
Mitford, Nancy Freeman, later Rodd: birth (eldest child) 17–18; appearance 22, 37, 66, 356, 425; character 75, 425–6, 477, 479; depictions of her parents and childhood 16, 21–2, 27–8, 29, 48, 57–9, 424, 472–3; stories, teasing and sharp wit 22, 45, 47, 54–6, 65, 68, 77, 88–9, 107, 109, 165, 189–90, 191, 202, 354; childhood 22–5, 26–31, 33–5, 41, 43, 44–5, 47–52, 5
4; jealous of sisters 22, 26; education 26, 41, 42, 43, 52–5, 56; relationship with father 28, 36–7, 52, 64, 69–70, 72, 73–4, 79, 331, 332, 396; and hunting 47, 48, 67, 491; skill in acting and disguise 50, 55–6; and Society of Hons 51–2; relationship with mother 59–60, 301, 331–2, 333, 472–3; trips to Europe 62–5, 81–2; coming out 66–8, 75; involvement with Brideshead set, and father’s bad behaviour towards friends 68–74; relationship with Hamish St Clair Erskine, suicide attempt and proposal from Hugh Smiley 97, 107–8, 148–51; briefly attends Slade School 107; early career as writer 107, 110, 113–14, 147–8, 149, 168–70; friendship with Waugh 109, 110; attitude to politics 119; reaction to Diana’s affair 145, 150; finances 147, 149, 194, 275–6; marriage to Peter Rodd 151–3, 164, 165, 167, 168; attends BUF meetings 164, 168; influence on Decca 170–1; rift with Diana and Unity 193–4, 196–7, 212–13, 260; turns against Fascism 196, 294, 295, 300, 301; marriage problems 212–13, 355, 390; goes to find Decca 229, 233–4, 236; miscarriage 269, 275–6; helps Spanish refugees 293–5; war work 301, 331, 353–4; helps to look after Unity and writes Pigeon Pie 309–10; informs on Diana 325, 329–30; and bombing of London 330–1, 389–90; affair with André Roy and ectopic pregnancy 333, 352–3, 354–5; improved relations with Diana 353, 418–19; runs bookshop 353; social life 354; affair with Gaston Palewski 355–8, 390, 396–9, 408–9, 424–6, 453–4, 461–2, 485–6, 489, 491–2, 502, 512; opens bookshop 396; moves to rue Monsieur, Paris 396–9, 403, 425, 426–7; reunion with Diana and Debo 418–19; divorce 426; as biographer 426, 450–1, 453, 488; and Decca’s visits to Paris 444–5, 482–3; gifts to Decca 445, 462; international success 450–3; translation work 453; trip to Russia 453; summers in Venice 454, 461; dislike of Mosley 461; reaction to Decca’s book 468–9; and mother’s death 475; comment on sisters 484; move to rue d’Artois 485; learns of Palewski’s marriage and becomes ill 485–90; visits Berlin 488; receives honours 489; death and funeral 490–3; biographies of 497, 511–12; TV documentary on 507–9; see also Blessing, The; Christmas Pudding; Don’t Tell Alfred; Frederick the Great; Highland Fling; Love in a Cold Climate; Madame de Pompadour; Noblesse Oblige; Pigeon Pie; Pursuit of Love, The; Voltaire in Love; Water Beetle, The; Wigs on the Green
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