23 Jul 2024
On This Day
23 July 2024 Cheryl

23 July 1996: Jessica Mitford dies

Jessica Mitford in 1988

Jessica Mitford was, in turn, a communist rebel, an investigative journalist, a civil rights activist and a pop singer – opening a gig for Cyndi Lauper and recording an unlikely duet with her friend and fellow mischief maker Maya Angelou. [1]

In her later years, Jessica Mitford focused intensely on her writing, using it as a platform for her sharp critique of American society. After settling in California in 1939, she became a prominent writer and investigative journalist. Her most famous work, The American Way of Death, published in 1963, was a scathing exposé of the funeral industry, highlighting its exploitative practices. The book’s success solidified Jessica as a fearless writer who tackled taboo subjects with both humour and rigour.

Jessica’s writing didn’t stop with the funeral industry; she also wrote about her own life in Hons and Rebels, a memoir that chronicled her early years in the Mitford family and her eventual break from their conservative values. The book, published in 1960, became a literary sensation and gave readers an intimate look at the life of a rebellious Mitford sister. She continued to write on a variety of subjects, including political activism and social justice, always with a critical eye and a biting wit.

Her passion for social reform was evident in her later works, which reflected her commitment to leftist causes. She wrote for various left-wing publications, addressing issues like civil rights, the prison system, and class inequality. Despite facing challenges in her personal life, Jessica used her pen to engage with and challenge the prevailing social order, earning her a reputation as a fearless and independent voice.

On 23 July 1996, Jessica Mitford passed away from lung cancer, aged 78, in Oakland, California. In keeping with her wishes, she had an inexpensive funeral – a cremation without a ceremony, and her ashes were scattered at sea. But her literary legacy endured. Her writings, which never shied away from controversy, remain a powerful testament to her commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths. Whether critiquing societal institutions or reflecting on her own unconventional path, Jessica’s works continue to influence writers and activists, keeping her voice alive long after her death.