Fascinating; the way all great family stories are fascinating.―Robert Gottlieb; New York Times Book Review This is the story of a close; loving family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the world wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy was one of the best-selling novelists of her day; beautiful Diana married the Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley; and Unity; a close friend of Hitler; shot herself in the head when England and Germany declared war. The Mitfords had style and presence and were mercilessly gifted. Above all; they were funny―hilariously and mercilessly so. In this wise; evenhanded; and generous book; Mary Lovell captures the vitality and drama of a family that took the twentieth century by storm and became; in some respects; its victims. 24 b/w photographs
#1253124 in Books W.W. Norton Co 1997-09-17Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x 1.90 x 5.60l; #File Name: 03933173311064 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Ambitious; comprehensive well-writtenBy JerryWetlauferGive the man his due - this is a great book! Enormously ambitious; well-conceived; comprehensive and entirely successful. If it doesn't read like Malcolm Gladwell; that's just part of the deal - because it's a billion times more informative. Available in the used book market.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. An Impressive AccomplishmentBy Jeffrey WolfContrary to another reviewer; I didn't find the prose boring; even if one expects little from a reference work like this. Indeed; it could have been dry as hay. But Smith crafts a convincing narrative out of his materials; no small feat in a work of this length. In its scope and balance; this work is too impressive to be given just two stars. Instead; I think the following conclusion from a review in The Journal of Interdisciplinary History is more on target: "Yet; in spite of the daunting nature of his task; Smith must be judged overall to have written a successful synthetic treatment of his many-faceted subject. The writing is compelling and often sparkling. The thinking is always informed. This is a book that serves many functions: It should be a standard reference; a work that one dips into for the sheer pleasure of reading bits and pieces; and an essential study of the problems underlying a history of the human sciences."6 of 15 people found the following review helpful. the most boring book in creation!By CaraculiambroThis is a big; thick; very boring book from a man who nevertheless knows his subject well. It's basically a history of how the "human sciences" (sociology; anthropology; psychology; economics; etc.) got started and developed over the years. There are no graphs or pictures; it's all narrative.Alas! This is a aggravatingly stuffy slog; although; as I say; you can't complain about its thoroughness. The problem; in my view; is neither the subject matter nor the approach: it's Smith's writing style. If you don't actually have the book in front of you; it's possible to convince yourself that it might be worth your time. No. So dry and lifeless is the writing that the book's other merits (e.g.; the versatility and erudition with which the different disciplines are interwoven) never have a chance to see the light of day.True; I was expecting a lot from it: the development of the social sciences is a very fecund subject; I guess I was hoping it would be as engaging; as riveting; and as thought-provoking as; for example; one of Boorstin's outings.And what a shame; too; since this could have been written so much better. In a way; I'm hoping hope that somebody here will rush to this book's defense; since the author obviously put a ton of work into it. But even so; that wouldn't make it a better read.In short: a fertile subject; but one that; sadly; still awaits a magisterial treatment.
