Nancy Mitford’s mother, Sydney, held a short-lived belief that children did best if you never got angry at them, much less corrected their mistakes. Before this experiment was discontinued, young Nancy had become utterly spoiled, self-centred and uncontrollable, prone to tantrums and “red-faced rage”. Just before her third birthday, a sister, Pamela, was born, and nanny’s apparent change of loyalty in favour of the new arrival was a further source of outrage. It resulted in a monster. [1]
English writer, Nancy Mitford, is celebrated for her witty and satirical novels. Born on 28 November 28 1904, in London, England, she was the eldest of six daughters of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and his wife, Sydney.
During her early years, Nancy was primarily educated at home by governesses, which allowed her keen intellect to develop a love for literature, history, and the arts. She displayed a talent for writing from a young age, contributing to family magazines and journals which foreshadowed her future as an accomplished writer.
The Mitford family was an aristocratic one. Nancy’s upbringing was steeped in the traditions and idiosyncrasies of the English upper class and her family was known for its eccentricities. Her father was a staunchly conservative figure who held traditional views, and her mother was a more liberal, free-spirited character. Nancy’s early experiences in her privileged but tumultuous family provided her with rich material for her later works and her keen sense of humour and her knack for social satire were honed during these formative years.
In 1931, Nancy Mitford published her first novel, Highland Fling, which was followed by a string of successful novels such as Christmas Pudding (1932) and Wigs on the Green (1935). However, it was her 1945 novel The Pursuit of Love that catapulted her to literary stardom. This semi-autobiographical work, inspired by her own experiences growing up in her eccentric family, showcased her talent for blending humour and social commentary.
Her writing was not only entertaining but also a reflection of the changing social landscape in post-war Britain. Her novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate (1949) are classics and I re-read them often. She was also a fine biographer and wrote about the lives of Madame de Pompadour, Voltaire and his mistress and the Sun King. However, I’m also fascinated by Nancy’s life and love her correspondence with Evelyn Waugh and other friends. I have visited gorgeous Asthall Manor, one of the Mitford family homes that inspired Alconleigh in her novels, and it was very special to see the Hons cupboard, the ballroom where her girls have their awkward ‘coming-out’ dances, and the stream where the chubb-fuddling takes place.
A friend once told me that you could tell a great deal about a person’s character by being informed which of the famous Mitford girls was their favourite! I’m not sure what it tells you about me, but Nancy is my favourite. She was the finest writer amongst them, and her humour was fabulous – satirical, biting and very very clever.
Nancy is huge fun. Celebrate her birthday by reading some of her writings, or about her life.
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