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. Hons and rebels Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. Ask me anything. 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. 7 … 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. Daughters and rebels by Jessica Mitford, October 31, 2001, Quality Words edition, Audio Cassette Hons and Rebels (October 31, 2001 edition) | Open Library Donate ♥ I really enjoyed seeing pre-war America through their eyes. 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. Don't get me wrong, though. 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. What do you think of the w. I think some good questions would be; Do you think Jessica did the right thing by running away with Esmond? As others have noted there's something a bit flat here and I was surprisingly a bit disappointed. . 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. ). My favorite part about this book was the author's description of her childhood. 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 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. Welcome back. 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. What do you think of the way her mother treated her children? Hello, Sign in. 'More than an extremely amusing autobiography ... she has evoked a whole generation' Sunday Times . Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Unity befriended Nazi leader Hitler,[3] who praised her as an ideal of Aryan beauty. 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". . 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. We’d love your help. Hons and rebels This edition was published in 1996 by Indigo in London. Print length. Thank you. 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. Regrettably, Jessica Mitford doesn't seem to be much-remembered nowadays. 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. . September 30th 2004 To see what your friends thought of this book, I think some good questions would be; Do you think Jessica did the right thing by running away with Esmond? There is a point, to which when men aspire, They tumble headlong down: that point I touch’d, And, seeing there was no place to mount up higher, Buy a cheap copy of Hons and Rebels book by Jessica Mitford. Jessica Lucy Freeman-Mitford was an English author, journalist and political campaigner, who was one of the Mitford sisters. . Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford – Stuck in a Book Still, I don’t think she ever really delved jfssica the elements of her sisters’ characters and personalities that made them so susceptible to fascist ideology, and I find this book slightly superficial in that sense. English. 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 … The first half was pretty good, though parts did come across as quite childish. Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford – Stuck in a Book Jul 02, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: One turned to writing as a form of payback, another embraced Nazism, while the author of this memoir chose her romanticised, unrealistic version of Communism. I first read this sometime back in the 80s. EMBED. . . 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. 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. I've never paid much attention to Jessica 'Decca' Mitford, and this book doesn't really make me want to. 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. No mean feat. Publisher. There's a lot of eccentricity, tragedy and adventure but I didn't FEEL it. 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. 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. . Previous page. . . [5][6], "Christopher Hitchens interviews Jessica Mitford (1988)", "In a Lifetime of Letters, the Evolution of an Aristocrat", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hons_and_Rebels&oldid=1003689492, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 January 2021, at 05:48. I've never paid much attention to Jessica 'Decca' Mitford, and this book doesn't really make me want to. . I really enjoyed this book. Jessica tells of her life and her family from, Like J.K. Rowling, I worship Jessica "Decca" Mitford. Hons and Rebels. that he was killed in action at age 23. It comes across as quite flat. Start by marking “Hons and Rebels ” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Jessica is so interesting and her childhood dream of running away is realised with sheer guts and determination. Strikingly observant and extremely well written, "Hons and Rebels" manages to convey the flavour of the English upper classes in such a way as to make them likeable. . Jessica Mitford was the "Ballroom Communist" of the engagingly eccentric Mitford Family. When World War II breaks out in earnest, Esmond drives off to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the book abruptly ends. But at her first chance she ran off with her cousin, Esmond Rommilly , the nephew of Winston Churchill, to fight Franco in Spain. 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. "[4], Mitford and Hons and Rebels are cited by J.K. Rowling and Christopher Hitchens as great influences. “I'm in a weird place because the book is about to come out. My mouth was agape the entire time I read HONS AND REBELS...it seemed incredible that Mitford's story wasn't fiction. . I write a long love letter to this book on this blog which you can find HERE. . 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. First published in 1960, Mitford’s book explored the upper-class upbringing she had fled, the evolution of her left-wing politics and her later life in the United States, where she became a prominent campaigner and journalist. 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, or “Decca,” was one of the legendary Mitford sisters: Nancy, who was a cel- 'More than an extremely amusing autobiography ... she has evoked a … 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. 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. ‘Hons and Rebels reads like a comic novel, except the characters would be judged too outlandish. "Hons and Rebels" is an enchanting and deeply absorbing memoir of an isolated and eccentric upbringing, which conceals much wisdom and depth of feeling beneath its witty, light-hearted surface. I love reading about the Mitfords. This is a very romantic book; the relationship between Esmund and her, especially their time on the road in America, is so sweetly portrayed. Hanging on the walls are framed pictures and poems done by Unity when she was quite small—queer, imaginative, interesting work, some on a tiny scale of microscopic detail, some huge and magnificent. 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". Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. So many of her exploits with Esmond made me squirm, and the endless parade of "big names" got old. However, I did not enjoy most of the parts that involved her relationship with her husband. 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. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. I needed several hours to savour. . I did feel a sense of dislocation in the second half, where Mitford seemed to relegate her role to that as a passenger riding along in the adventures of her husband, Esmond Romilly. 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. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. 262 pages. 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. Also, there is some lovely writing about the importance that books can have on the interior life of bookish children that had me nodding my head in agreement. I read this quite hungrily because I needed a Mitford fix and I couldn't get the Sisters bio on kindle. 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. 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. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, "not exactly conventional. Language. The madcap and eccentric life that followed from Rotherhithe to the United States with Esmond equals that of her earlier life, but with herself being the master of her fate. 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. . Possibly my all-time favorite book. 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. And the dashing Esmond little better than a smarmy conman in the US. A spotty memoir that glides over much of the author's early life while providing details on some seemingly random episodes. 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). Like J.K. Rowling, I worship Jessica "Decca" Mitford. 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. Why or why not? Her sisters included Nancy, doyenne of the 1920s London smart... Free Shipping on all orders over $10. Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Returns & Orders. How might Jessica's life have been changed if she had been allowed to go to school? My favourite has always been Nancy, because I love her biographies of French political figures. I’m not a hon, nor a particular rebel. REVIEW: Edward II by Christopher Marlowe (Sport For Jove, October 2015) “Base Fortune, now I see, that in thy wheel. A fascinating insight into the Mitford sister’s upbringing and my first Slightly Foxed edition (number 707) I have read most of Nancy Mitford’s stories and enjoyed this window into the Mitford world. Read 316 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Perhaps my opinion has been tainted by some previous Mitford reading. They were put there by my sister Unity and myself when we were children. Unity comes across as grotesque but it's never really explored. 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 … Didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped -- apparently I'm not the biggest Decca fan. 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. Would appreciate your sharing. She devoted her life to fighting fascism, even while. Her warmth and likability come across strongly in this book, and she was able to poke gentle. 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. So I'm basically just walking around like a raw nerve and I'm not sure that I... Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. Critic Reviews Can you relate to how bored Jessica must have been growing up? . Jessica swung left and moved to America, where she took part in the civil rights movement and wrote her classic expose of the undertaking business. She devoted her life to fighting fascism, even while 2 of her sisters became close associates of Adolf Hitler. by NYRB Classics. Publication date. "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. . She gained American citizenship in later life. There were 6 '. Why or why not? Jessica Mitford was the "Ballroom Communist" of the engagingly eccentric Mitford Family. 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. This was so good, much to my astonishment as I am not usually fond of biograhies. 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. Isis, 1990 - Biography & Autobiography - 344 pages. By turns hilarious and poignant, Jessica Mitford's account of her formative years is a classic. 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 Americ. The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family, Lauren Hough on Leaving Cults, the Military, and Bad Jobs. As a member of one of the century's most extraordinary families she has many a tale to tell. Jessica Mitford, the great muckraking journalist, was part of a legendary English aristocratic family. 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. In all a disappointment with flashes of insight and humor. 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. Her warmth and likability come across strongly in this book, and she was able to poke gentle fun at herself, at the same time. We're told in an author footnote(!) 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 … 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. I can't believe how moved I was by this book. 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. After a gripping tale of Decca's escape to Civil War Spain with her cousin, the teenaged antifascist Esmond Romilly, t. A spotty memoir that glides over much of the author's early life while providing details on some seemingly random episodes. 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.”. What was my surprise to find it again under a slightly different title, "Daughters and Rebels", which GR does not recognise (or rather it just leads you here.) 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. I have a feeling I would not have liked her husband much. The first half was pretty good, though parts did come across as quite childish. My mouth was agape the entire time I read HONS AND REBELS...it seemed incredible that Mitford's story wasn't fiction. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. The best parts were her reflections on the politics of the time, and her discussion of her sisters, of course. Have to admit "Hons" catches the eye more. It felt quite disjointed. This was so good, much to my astonishment as I am not usually fond of biograhies. . I also enjoyed the section about Mitford and her husband selling stockings. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. . Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Hons and Rebels is a memoir that shocks and amuses by its sheer bravado. Jessica Mitford grew up in a genteel but eccentric family in the English countryside. There are a few really funny bits, but, like, let’s be real - it’s no Pursuit of Love. Classifications Dewey Decimal Class 942.0820922 Library of Congress CT788.M56 A3 1996 The Physical Object Pagination 224 p. : … This is a really well written, funny memoir from one of those infamous sisters. Hons and Rebels. Funny, sarcastic, and playful, she is a forerunner to Michael Moore. Although he was an interesting character too, I enjoyed this section less than her treatment of her childhood and fascinating family. On to Debo's memoir! 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. Her family was delightfully quirky and snobby. Hons and Rebels is the hugely entertaining tale of Mitford's upbringing, which was, as she dryly remarks, “not exactly conventional. I don't love Jessica for her political convinctions -- I love her for her writing talent. My fondness for it most likely arises from the fact that the book overall very much reads like fiction. Hons and Rebels is a memoir by Jessica Mitford, raconteur and my favourite Mitford sister. “A thirteen-year-old is a kaleidoscope of different personalities, if not in most ways a mere figment of her own imagination. Jessica Mitford. Wonderful book. 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 … Profiles the Mitfords, one of Britain's most enigmatic families, a group distinguished by a scandalous novelist, a member infatuated with Hitler, and another's flirtation with communism. It comes across as quite flat. Refresh and try again. . About the Author: Jessica Mitford 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. Her account of their childhood world is fascinating and hilarious and reminds me a little of my own odd family. Does anyone or book club have discussion questions on Hon and Rebels by Jessica Mitford? Hons and Rebels book. What with all of England trying to force her home, sending really big ships no less, even the courts of Chancery, it's surprising that she actually was able to succeed in her convictions and in marryingEsmond. 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. Jessica. ©1960 Jessica Mitford (P)2017 Orion Publishing Group. The first half of Hons and Rebels details Jessica’s experiences growing up in an isolated country house, surrounded only by her family and educated at home. We do hope you enjoy it. The best kind of memoir - one whose author can write with real flair and humour, and whose life was truly pretty amazing. 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, J.K. Rowling is apparently a fan too. But this is really a wonderful piece of writing. This book reads like a love letter to Esmond Romilly...seen through rose tinted glasses of the past and of a first love. My favourite has always been Nancy, because I love her biographies of French political figures. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item
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