The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict. Pub Date: January 17, 2023. Rating: 4 stars. I was so excited to be approved for this much anticipated novel by Marie Benedict. I have read some of her other books and really enjoyed all of them. Based during WWII, this is a novel about the Mitford Sisters and their varying lives throughout the war. I learned so much about the Mitford Sisters and how the war affected their family due to two sisters and their mother being Hitler supporters and the others struggling with their actions during the war. The novel paints the picture of high society during the war and how the war affected the lifestyles of this population. I was engrossed in all of the lives of the sisters and the pacing of the story was top notch. I highly recommend this novel for historical fiction readers. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #themitfordaffair

At turns horrifying and thought-provoking. Marie Benedict’s latest shines a spotlight on not one woman’s history but on that of the entire Mitford family - and particularly of sisters novelist Nancy and fascist / Nazi-sympathizers Diana and Unity - during the pre-World War II years in England and Germany and during the tumultuous beginning of the War. The issues of fascism, white supremacy, anti-semitism, and the relationship between the personal and the political are all too relevant to the present day, with several of the historical scenes readily evoking recent events and hence rendering this obviously well-researched novel an important, reflective read for our time. I cannot, however, state it was an enjoyable tale, due to the often utterly appalling content. And while Benedict is a skilled writer, the pacing in this particular book is at times uneven.

Further, though I happened to be aware of much of the history of the various Mitford sisters prior to delving into Benedict’s fictional account, most readers may not be and would likely benefit greatly from a more detailed author’s note apprising them of the real life biographical information of at least Nancy, Diana and Unity. I would imagine readers will want to know what became of each woman in the period following the timeframe addressed in the book. A family tree showing the relationships between the Mitfords and a few other characters to whom they were related, such as the Churchills, would be another helpful feature.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Marie Benedict for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. “The Mitford Affair” shows the story of Diana, Unity, and Nancy Mitford and how they navigate the time between the two World Wars. Diana and Unity are swept up in the romantic notions of Fascism and Hilter’s take on world domination. They both believe he will save the world and be the leader they want. Meanwhile, Nancy overhears various conversations and finds disturbing documents, leading her to be concerned for her two sisters. Nancy has a decision to make - does she do what’s right for the country and go against her sisters or does allegiance and loyalty to her family win out? I really enjoyed Nancy’s point-of-view as she seemed to be the most levelheaded one. Diana and Unity’s points-of-view were harder to read, knowing what we know now about Hilter and WWII. I was familiar with Diana Mitford and Oswald Mosley while watching Peaky Blinders. Though I strongly disliked the two of them on the show, I really dislike them more after reading this book. This was a really good book and as I got deeper into the book, I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend it for a look into how a family is divided by the ideology of Hilter and the country they were all born in.

Really enjoyed this page turner about the British Mitford sisters during pre WW2 and their various political ideologies from fascism to social democracy. The perspectives of the different sisters during this time period was intriguing.

In the period between the World War I and II, the six aristocratic Mitford sisters along with their only brother Tom, were the darling bright young things of society, the older ones mixing with the likes of Evelyn Waugh, John Betjeman and Cecil Beaton. The novel focuses on three of the famous three oldest sisters, Nancy, the eldest and well-known novelist, followed by Diana, married for four years with two children to Bryan Guinness (heir to the Guinness brewing fortune), until she left him for Oswald Mosley, charismatic leader of the British Union of Fascists, who would ultimately become her second husband. Unity the fourth eldest of the sisters, would become infamous through her total embracement of fascism and subsequent adoration of and friendship with Adolf Hitler.

The narrative is told from the point of view of these three sisters, from Diana and Unity’s initial embracing of the Fascist movement to their many trips to Germany to meet Hitler, while Nancy watches from the side lines worrying about what they are getting into and then what happens to each of them after Britain is finally at war with Germany.

Benedict’s research into the sisters appears very thorough, although it’s difficult to know how faithful an account this is, looking at the feelings and actions of the each as the sisters as they each take a step along the path that will ultimately lead to Unity’s suicide attempt and Nancy’s provision of information to MI5 on their activities that would result in Diana’s incarceration in Holloway. I would have been interested to know a little more about the rise of Mosley and the why the BUF attracted the political interest of the Mitfords amongst others. I was also surprised to learn that the sisters’ brother Tom and their mother also supported fascism and Hitler’s rise to power, along with their father who had previously hated the Germans and would revert to that hatred once war was declared.

Although I had previously read a little about these three Mitford sisters, I really enjoyed reading the details of their lives, relationships and how the events unfolded. Marie Benedict relates a clear account of how the scandal gradually built up from a political interest in fascism as an alternative to the current underperforming government to plans to help Hitler’s occupation of Britain.

This is such a magnificent novel! I'm very interested in the Mitford universe and this book explores the darkest chapter of this family history. We read about it from three different perspectives, and only one of them is narrated in the first person, that of Nancy. The other two are Diana's and Unity's perspectives and are told from the most distant third person, and I imagine that that is no coincidence. During the rising of fascism and nazism in Europe, Diana and Unity become fascinated by these two ideologies to the point of risking their lives to support the rising of the Third Reich. This puts family bonds to the test and raises an uncomfortable question: to whom we owe loyalty?
I can't begin to imagine how challenging must have been for the author trying to understand Unity's and Diana's minds. Benedict writes about how strongly personal politics becomes for the sisters, without judging, patronizing or sympathizing. And that requires a perfect mastery of the art of writing. I strongly recommend this book.

I have loved every single one of Marie Benedict's books thus far, but not this one. I was confused as to the content of the book. It seemed to me that it was about Hitler and not about the the Mitford Sisters at all. Maybe I missed something, but I struggled to get through the book. While I appreciate all of the research that the author has done for this storyline (and there is a ton of research and facts), I had a very hard time keeping everyone on track. Each sister has a name (plus a nickname), then a lot of their significant others were put into the mix with their nickname. Honestly, at one point, I had no clue as to who was who and had to resort to writing it all out on paper myself. I will continue to read books written by Marie Benedict with the hope that I can follow on the next novel. Perhaps it just wasn't the right time for me to read this novel.

Another amazingly well written and researched book my Marie Benedict. English socialites, the Mitford Sisters, get themselves intertwined with political discourse during the rise of Hitler and fascism. The book follows three of the sister: Nancy, Diana, and Unity. Nancy is a witty writer who watches her younger sisters get too close to the Nazi party for her comfort. Diana, known for being magnetic and beautiful, divorces her extremely wealthy husband to help her lover promote fascism in England. The eccentric Unity, moves to Germany to try to become part of Hitler's inner circle and assist Diana in her goals. The family drama explodes as Hitler's power and influence grows and war becomes a reality. Nancy has to decide what's more important; her country or her family.

This would make an excellent read for a book club as it is an interesting perspective on WWII with some modern day parallels.

Marie Benedict never fails to bring the characters in her books alive.She is a star author of historical fiction.I find the Mitford sisters fascinating and enjoyed being drawn into their world their lives of glamour .#netgalley #sourcebooks

If someone asked me to blurb this, I’d say something along the lines of “Unlikeable people doing unlikeable things.” Because that’s really what this book is all about. And I kinda really enjoyed it?

Told through three narrators (Nancy, Diana and Unity Mitford), this is a fictional take on the nonfictional life of the Mitfords in the years between 1932 and 1941. Prior to this book I’d only heard of the Mitfords in passing, the Bright Young Things, Unity Mitford being very much in love with Hitler, stuff like that. And that’s some of what this book is about. But mostly it’s a well-researched, fascinating (fictional) look into their lives and the clashes between the sisters due to everything from financial issues and wars to conflicting political views and professional aspirations. In a way they’re very human. In a way they’re very.. rich.

This was a fascinating if uncomfortable read. I struggled with it for the first 30% or so, having a hard time really getting into it and especially a hard time reading Unity’s bits, but once it got into the real meat of the story I breezed through it and found I had to pace myself. Unlikeable people doing unlikeable things, but make it interesting.

I love Marie Benedict's books about the unsung heroines of history. They are always entertaining and educational and her books are a must-read for me. I think "The Mitford Affair" is one of her best! It was fascinating to look into the lives of these well known socialites, especially those who were enthralled with fascism and Adolf Hitler. Ms. Benedict wrote these distasteful characters and scenes so well, I felt sick reading them. This book is meticulously researched, and the seamless blend of fact and fiction, as well as the richly detailed writing, really made these women come alive to me. However, this is a very character driven novel; if a reader is looking for a lot of plot, he or she may be disappointed.

I think this book greatly showcased Ms. Benedict's talent as a writer. It's easy to write likeable characters who a reader wants to succeed; it's quite another feat to bring humanity to completely distasteful people. I abhorred Unity and Diana and everything their politics stood for, but yet I loved the book as a whole.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book.

I first became interested in the Mitford family after visiting Chatsworth about ten years ago and reading Deborah Cavendish's memoir, Wait for Me. The Mitfords were a declining aristocratic family with political views across the spectrum, with Unity Mitford living out the most extreme adherence to Hitler and his Nazi regime. As usual, Marie Benedict does an excellent job of exploring both the public and the personal aspects of these historical figures. In addition, her depiction of the rise of fascism in England is a cautionary tale of a frustrated public caught up in the cult of nationalism led by a charismatic leader.

Pub day: 1-16-2023
3.5⭐️

I’m not sure exactly what I expected going into this one but it definitely wasn’t what the book delivered. A very in- depth look at the BUF (British Union Fascists) in England and those who supported Hilter from afar. How easily a young kid could be persuaded that fascist ideals were the beliefs to support and how family would be family no matter how different ones pilitics are.

It also took a thorough look at marriage, divorce, and the stringent expectations of women in the 1930s. It took a microscopic look at three of the sisters lives, decisions, and ensuing drama. This was a family drama with a backdrop of Nazi German and felt more like a non fiction than anything else.
I personally enjoyed the times of conversations with Winston Churchill, a relative of the mitfords, and the interactions between Unity and Hitler the most. It’s not a fast-paced story but the chapters are quite short so it was easy to grab a quick chapter here and there.

What I found a little disjointed and problematic was the random use of nicknames for the sisters. Bobo would be dropped in and the reader was expected to some how just know which sister than referred to. There were six sisters which made it very difficult, and as a person who reads a lot of historical fiction where they jump around from characters and timelines a lot, I recognize this will be especially difficult for anyone not used to abrupt transitions like this. I also felt like there could have been less in the middle and more at the end. It felt incomplete but long all at the same time.

4.25 stars

“How personal is the political in the end, I think. It turns each one of us into authors of our own histories; we become patriots and heroes, and where necessary, spies and traitors. Which of these, I wonder, am I?”

This was a fascinating look into the lives of the Mitford sisters before and during WWII. I had heard of Nancy Mitford, the author, but had no idea of the role her family played in the war. I can not imagine how their parents must have felt as 3 of their daughters each drifted towards and then became very involved with extreme political parties (fascism, nazism, and communism).

When Marie Benedict was asked what is next for her in her writing projects, she responded: “ I hope to continue excavating from the past the most important and fascinating women of history — women whose stories deserve to be told and legacies celebrated — until such novels are no longer necessary, because both modern and historical women are no longer in the shadows.” I have loved each book I’ve read by her and will continue to read them based on this response alone!

Read if you like:
Historical fiction
Strong female protagonists
Multiple POVs
Sibling stories
Short chapters

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Mitford Affair is another well written and researched book that keeps your interest from the first to the final page.

I thought I knew a fair amount about the Mitford Sisters but I was wrong.

Their are 6 Mitford Sisters and individually they are interesting and together they are fascinating.

They are all strong women in their own right.

How do you choose between what you think is right and family.

Its a journey/read that every historical fiction fan should and must read.

I am a big fan of Marie Benedicts and her books are a compelling dive into history and strong women .

The Mitford Affair is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a compelling and unforgettable read.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict. Another interesting historical fiction from my favourite novelist. The story of the Mitford sisters in the years leading up to the Second World War. The Mitford family were part of the English aristrocracy and even closely related to Winston Churchill. Two of them were also close to the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. The novel chronicles in lucid details how they may have well played a part in influencing history. Written in Marie Bendict's signature style, this is an easy interesting read about the lives and times.

Thank you Netgalley, Marie Benedict and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC

Between the two world wars, the Mitford family of 6 daughters and 1 son were well known across England and much of Europe as part of the Bright Young Things. They were part of aristocratic society with the composer Wagner and Winston Churchill as relatives. This historical fiction account and character-driven story focuses on just 3 of the daughters and the roles they played in the politics of the time. Nancy is the oldest and is an author of several satirical books about her family and society during this period; Diane is in love with the leader of the fascist movement in England and goes to great lengths to further his career, even at the cost of her own family; and Unity is dedicated to Hitler and is blind to anyone but him. This amazing family and their radical political views pose many questions about family, loyalty, politics, and truth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC to read and review.

THE MITFORD AFFAIR, by Marie Benedict, is set in the early 1930s leading to World War II and contains all the scandal and political intrigue one would want. The story alternates among three of the sisters: Nancy, Unity and Diana. Each one is flawed in her own way, and the reader can identify with each of them at some point in the story. All are self-absorbed, naïve, and yet aware of current events and eager to make a difference. Diana yearns for the love of a deceitful man. Nancy evolves into the spy-heroine of the story. Unity gives her all to the cause of a political movement. The historical background is well-researched and written with the author’s unique creative twist. The pacing is excellent, moving from tense ‘edge of war’ moments to a scene at tea or at a Wagner opera. This book is the heartbeat of historical fiction, with characters holding conversations with history’s most famous personalities like Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler. What a great novel this would be for discussion by a book club. What is the personal cost of citizenship and patriotism? Which comes first, family or country? How much of history was a result of fate or of the involvement of one woman?

This well-known author’s newest historical fiction novel delves into the lives of the British Mitford sisters before and during WWII. Based on very scary facts, Unity becomes one of Hitlers closest associates, Diana and her husband run the British Fascists organization, Jessica takes up the yoke of communism, and then there’s Nancy whose novels are a bit to autobiographical according to the family. When Great Britain goes to war, Nancy must weigh family vs country.
A frightening, but compelling read especially considering its basis in truth.

“The Mitford Affair” follows three of the six Mitford sisters, who were influential in English society in the period between the World Wars. The family divides when two of the sisters, Diana and Unity, become heavily involved with the fascist movement in England and Germany—earning places among Hitler’s closest friends before the start of World War II. As Diana and Unity attempt to exert their influence, Nancy Mitford tries to remain level headed and steer her sisters back on the “right” path. This novel explores the political climate of World War II and how politics divided the Mitford family.

This was a very well written and researched book. The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Diana, Unity, and Nancy. These multiple perspectives and short chapters kept me reading at a good pace. I’ve always been drawn to “dramatized” stories of truth, and this one did not disappoint. This book is well-researched and easy to understand for readers with no prior knowledge of the subject matter (like me). However, becuase it was a character driven novel, I found the book to drag on a bit—and for that reason it stays at three stars.