Marie Benedict sets the standard for excellence in historical fiction featuring notable women. She is one of those authors that you don’t need to read the reviews. You can count on meticulous facts with inspiring writing. A book you can’t put down, even when the main characters are loathsome as is the case in the Mitford Affair. It was like watching a train wreck where you know nothing good is coming, but you can’t turn away.
I also like a book that compels me to search out more of the historical background of the characters and events to deepen the experience. Thanks to #Netgalley and #TheMitfordAffair for an advanced digital copy.

A great historical fiction novel! I loved how intricate and detailed the author described all the sisters and their relationship with one another. An exciting and intriguing book for sure!

I was provided a free advanced copy of this story by @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The Mitford sisters are a constant part of England's social scene between the two world wars. But when Diana divorces her husband to devote herself to a rising fascist leader, things start to fall apart. Unity follows in her sister's footsteps and works her way into the inner circles of the rising Nazi leader. Nancy, tries to understand her sisters' decisions and has some tough decisions to make in how far she will go to protect her family and her country!
I have read a few of Marie Benedict's previous books and she always does a great job revealing little known parts of history through fictionalized accounts. But it took me a while, in this one, to believe it was based on real people! Part of her purpose was to show how "ordinary" people could be drawn into these extreme views, which is still a relevant topic for today. I did feel it was a bit difficult to relate to these women, so it made it, at times, hard to read. Diana and Unity obviously kept espousing how wonderful the fascist and Nazi ideas were, but then Nancy was a bit of a downer as well. We clearly see the difficulties of family relationships and sibling rivalries. Overall it was a very interesting look into a time period I've read a lot about, but knew nothing on these specific topics!
If you like historical fiction, fiction based on real people, and family dramas, you will like this one. It was published earlier this week, so you can go check it out for yourself now!
#TheMitfordAffair #NetGalley

This book is difficult for me to review, since my own studies of the Holocaust, and my dislike of Diana and Unity made it a hard read for me. The Mitford siblings included five girls and one boy. During the 1930’s, with the rise of Naziism, the political becomes personal for both Diana and Unity as they fall under Hitler’s spell. Diana becomes involved with Mosley, the head of the British Union of Fascists, a virulent supporter of Fascism. Nancy is anti-Fascist, and as a cousin of Clemmie Churchill, and a prolific writer, she appears the only normal one in the family. At times the book moved slowly for me, but if you don’t know about the Mitfords, it is an interesting read. One thing that bothered me was the use of an obscure word, perseverating, three times, which struck me as strange. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict tells the story of the Mitford women. The Mitfords were a family of minor English nobility and lost wealth before the start of World War II and lasting well past the war. They have been the characters in many lessor works of historical fiction but this tells a more complete story. Some were Nazis, some were Socialists, and come were Communists. One, Unity, was close to Hitler and used her position to foster a relationship between the Fuhrer and her sister, Diana, whose second husband was Oswald Mosley, the leader of the fascist party in England, and who was hungry for financial support for his efforts. On sister was an author, Nancy, who wrote light fiction which sometimes turned caustic and didn’t portray the movement in a good light, although better than before she let her sister edit it. Their parents were pretty much clueless about what was to come.

This is an elegant portrayal of a group of women who were notorious in their day. As are all of Benedict’s pieces, it was well-researched and it was mostly only dialogue which was improvised. She made them seem fascinating and very, very real. It was a well done diatribe featuring real people with real problems in an extremely trying time in history. It was a prime example of the grass being greener. It is an example of what historical fiction should be.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Mitford Affair by Sourcebooks Landmark, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #SourcebooksLandmark #MarieBenedict #The Mitford Affair

Marie Benedict tells the compelling story of the Mitford sisters and their involvement in politics between the World Wars. Notorious for beauty, social connections and wealth, Benedict’s focus is on three of the sisters. Diana has married into the wealthy Guinness family but is recently divorced and enamored with a fascist leader. Unity’s desire to outdo Diana and her fascination with fascism leads her to Germany to become part of Hitler’s inner circle. Nancy, the eldest, a successful novelist and first member of British Society’s “Bright Young Things,” finds herself confronted with complicated choices.
Readers will find Diana and Unity’s behavior “unbelievably appalling,” which adds to the “who would do this, but it’s true?” aspect of the novel. Benedict admits that writing the part of Unity and her infatuation with Hitler was challenging, knowing what the world knows now. Those passages are convincing to a point, until background knowledge and historical facts take over and the readers’ emotions are catapulted 180*! This is a thought-provoking novel that explores how deep personal world views and political perspectives challenge family relations and call responsibility and duty into question.

Once again Marie Benedict gives us a captivating reimagining of the life of a woman in history. I confess I came into this story with very little background knowledge of the MItford sisters but thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse into this society family and the beliefs that fractured their family. I found this story to be both sad and compelling. Marie Benedict's character driven plots keep the reader engaged and curious even when those characters are not the most likable of individuals.

Please note: This book review and its source material may contain triggering content for some readers. The real-life events that are described in this book center around the European political climate of the 1930s — many of the people in this book were swept up in fascist and communist political actions. Please note that, in reading and reviewing this book, I am in no way advocating the vicious and atrocious political viewpoints held by members of the Mitford family. This book contains content warnings for Nazism, anti-Semitism, Fascism and suicide.

Oh, wow. There is so much to unpack with The Mitford Affair. These women (and their ill-fated brother, Tom) were celebrity socialites of 1930s England. They were beautiful, and brilliant, and witty, and they garnered plenty of media attention. Their novels and memoirs were full of nicknames and bon mots and secret languages and in-jokes. Their father held a peerage title and they were cousins-by-marriage to Winston Churchill. It’s quite easy to get caught up in their mystique and mythology; one feels a little more clever simply by reading of their adventures. And yet…

And yet you can’t deny the fact that three of the six sisters were political fanatics. Diana and Unity were caught up in Europe’s burgeoning fascist movement. Diana actively fought to bring fascist rule to England, and Unity literally stalked Hitler. Jessica chose communism over her family. As the narrative of The Mitford Affair unfolds, we learn that Nancy chooses to turn Diana’s political documents over to the British authorities. As I read Ms. Benedict’s account of the Mitford sisters’ political conflicts, I couldn’t help thinking of the political climate of modern America, and the ways that so many people are getting caught up in often-dangerous political rhetoric. If I learned anything in four years of undergraduate political science studies, it’s that there will always be dangerous ideologies to adopt, and there will always be people who find these ideologies thrilling and fascinating.

The Mitford Affair is a fantastic introduction to the famed Mitford sisters, presenting the reader with a concise understanding of the socioeconomic and political dynamics of the day. Ms. Benedict does tend to present Diana somewhat as a victim of infatuation more than a political entity in her own right; I honestly don’t know if this is a true depiction. The same could be said of the author’s treatment of Unity — was she an impressionable young woman who fell blindly into Hitler-worship or was she truly a believer in the Nazi cause? Ms. Benedict does a nice job of writing about these women in a way that both captures their charms and looks unflinchingly at their reprehensible actions. I definitely recommend this book — with strong consideration to content warnings — to anyone who’s interested in learning more about the storied Mitford family.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

"Perhaps you will prove lucky to me, Fräulein Unity Valkyrie Mitford." His eyes are shining, and his hand gazes hers. "It is fate that our paths have crossed."

It feels so good when historical fiction novels are based on real characters, people who existed and left their mark on society. The ones who had an impact because they took the opportunity to be the change they wanted to see. But on the other side, it is quite terrifying to know that almost everything that happens in these books was real.

Books with war and post-war scenarios are always a slippery terrain that needs to be handled with care. And also, let's not forget that this is a topic that doesn't allow sugarcoating - the world was never a dreamy place to live, especially in the era between the two great wars.

Crumpled world, collapsed politics, and loads of people fighting for their lives. Trying to survive the apocalypse and rekindle the spark of joy, at least what was left of it after everything went down.

Nancy, the aspiring author, Diana the diva, and Unity the rebellion - the three Mitford sisters surely had a story to tell. Each one of them desperately tried to oppose the patriarchy in her own way, and they kept fighting with their own demons along the way.

The writing is so smooth, I almost read the book in one sitting which is always a surprise, considering the fact that I'm a slow reader. It was such an interesting journey, and if you are a fan of well-researched books, then I think that you should take this as a sign and read the book!
My only note would probably be the lack of emotional depth, you know, that special mood when you just FEEL the characters. I wanted to see a more raw and vulnerable side of the Mitford sisters, but this is just a personal preference after all.

Real feel: 3.5 stars

Many thanks to the publisher, who provided the digital ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Marie Benedict is a master at weaving well-researched historical facts into a novel that reads like fiction. I had no prior knowledge of the Mitford sisters, but after reading The Mitford Affair, was intrigued to learn more. This book is beautifully written with details that pull you into the action. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Marie Benedict. I enjoy her writings on strong women. The Mitford Affair is a fictional story based on historical events. Mrs. Benedict does take some liberties throughout the book. I enjoyed learning about the differences amongst the Mitford Sisters during WWII.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SourcebooksLandmark and #MarieBenedict for the advance readers copy of #TheMitfordAffair for my honest review.

When I read a Marie Benedict novel, I know it will be well researched and her newest novel follows suit. The Mitfords sisters have been well researched and have been the focus of many documentaries, as well as both fiction and nonfiction books. The Mitford sisters, especially Diana Mosley were well-known for the “Bright Young Things social group of Bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London ''. Although there were six sisters and one brother that made their mark on history, Marie Benedict mainly focused on three, Diana and Unity, and Nancy who was a writer, 'Wigs on the Green' was written by Nancy (Naunce) Mitford (1935) and was a satirical novel.
Unity a fascist, her admiration to the cause was obvious, “specimens of Aryan womanhood”, perhaps this was why the ladies were invited as “special guests”. Sister Diana and M become lovers upon her divorce and it was assumed that she became friends with Hitler, perhaps lovers.
I reacommend doing research in order to follow the real life characters. I was able to follow the storyline after doing my own research. As a result, I am in awe with the amount of research that Marie Benedict put into her novel. I enjoy learning and reading, so this novel checks both boxes for me.
I have enjoyed many Marie Benedect novels in the past, and I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered the eARC. Thank you Marie Benedict, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this novel and I wrote an honest review.

I have read several historical fiction accounts about the 6 Mitford Sisters but not really much about their time during the rise of Hitler, Nazis, and fascist regimes of the 1930's and into WWII. This book focuses on the three of the sisters: Nancy, Diane, and Unity. Two of them are fascists, and one of which would do anything for her Fuhrer.

I have read all of Marie Benedict's works. This book does not disappoint. She focuses on strong women of their time. While none of these three Mitford's were endearing to me, I can appreciate their commitments and fortitudes even to the point of self destruction..

The writing style flows well from chapter to chapter. Each one focuses on one of these three sisters and the impact of fascism and their love for all of their sisters even under trying times and opposing believes.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy. I cannot wait for a new Marie Benedict book.

Happy Pub Day to Marie Benedict and this gorgeous book!

This is a historical fiction lover's dream! Based on real people and events, The Mitford Affair covers the six Mitford sisters between the World Wars and heading into World War II. The sisters are icons in the English political, literary and social scenes but the family falls into disarray when Diana divorces her husband (of the Guinness fortune!) to marry a fascist leader and influences another sister, Unity, in the process.

I've read many WWII novels but this is the first with characters that are sympathetic/friendly/perhaps romantic even with Hitler and I found that to be really interesting (mindblowing) to say the least. I enjoyed that this was based on true events and I also love a book with alternating perspectives to drive the plot and timeline. The writing was relatable and easy to follow.

I felt like this was a bit long, maybe slow in some spots. Just as things got good it was over! I would have liked some of the middle shortened with more emphasis on the ending. I think we all know how things turn out but I felt like I was left hanging with how the sisters reacted to everything in the end.

If you love historical fiction, true events, family drama, WW II fiction, this one is a MUST.

I like how Marie Benedict brings to focus women from history in her historical novels. I’ve read a bit about the Mitford sisters, but this is about the particularity dark and disturbing time in the lives of this strangely famous British family. It is difficult to understand how Diana and Unity align themselves with Hitler and bring their family and country into great danger because of it.

This book follows the notoriously controversial and scandalous English Mitford Sisters. A multi perspective book following Nancy, Diana, Unity. Coming off a divorce to Guiness Royalty Diana Mitford engages in an affair and eventually marriage to Fascist leader Walter Mosley. Sister Unity is a staunch Nazi and Hilter loyalist. Novelist Nancy is faced with the decision to remain loyal to her sisters Diana and Unity or loyalty to her country. A fascinating read. Thanks to @bookmarked @netgalley arc.

I rate this novel by Marie Benedict 3.8 stars. This was a really interesting book, and I will recommend it to my family and friends based on the fact that it shows another side of the build up to WW2 in England. The Mitford sisters were kind of like some of our celebrities today- famous for being famous. Attractive and well-off, the sisters are a fascinating bunch, and incredibly diverse in their political views and lives. This novel focuses mostly on Diana, Unity, and Nancy. Diana and Unity become enmeshed in the rise of fascism both in Germany and at home in England. I found Diana and Unity to be truly appalling and willing to sacrifice any morals they may have once had. I found Nancy to be inspiring and interesting. I liked this book because it left me wanting to know more about the sisters. Marie Benedict is a great historical fiction author, and I try to read all her books as they come out. I always enjoy her books and I learn something too! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

The horrible hole in my literary education regarding Nancy Mitford and her family was partly filled when I read Eliza Knight’s biographical fiction novel, The Mayfair Bookshop last year. Obviously, that wasn’t enough for me. Not only did I rush to get the ARC of this novel, but I actually purchased one of Nancy’s books on my last trip to the UK (no, I haven’t read it yet). Now, unlike the two divergent books about Alice Diamond (Forty Elephants and Queen of Thieves), I’m pleased to say that both Knight and Benedict seem to have done similar paths of research, and I could find nothing in either book which contradicted the other. Mind you, Benedict doesn’t get involved in Nancy’s bookshop, while Knight played down (partially) Nancy’s sisters’ political penchants. This means we have two very different novels, despite the similar source materials.

While Knight’s book is really all about Nancy, the bookshop, and her love life, as noted above, Benedict focuses on Nancy together with two of her sisters – Diana and Unity. Yes, the other siblings do get mentioned in the book, together with other family members (like Winston Churchill, for example), but these three are the meat of this story, and Benedict tells them through chapters which scroll through their three points of view. Interestingly enough, only Nancy gets a first-person voice here, while both Diana’s and Unity’s stories are both told in third person. I’m guessing that Benedict did this to help the reader feel closer to Nancy and distance themselves from Diana and Unity. I think that worked quite well, but I often worry that a first-person voice can lead to suspicions of their being an unreliable narrator. But I don’t think this happened here, and… in real life, I don’t think I’d ever want to meet up with either Diana or Unity, but what I wouldn’t give to sit down to an afternoon tea (well, coffee for me) with that amazing Nancy!

Another thing I noticed with this book is how Benedict was very careful to use the King’s English (oops, I almost wrote Queen’s here - RIP) throughout this novel. Not that it made it feel stiff or staid, but rather that it felt quite proper and elegant. This worked to perfection with her subject matter, since these are all women of class – both figuratively and literally. I mean, the descriptions of Diana and how she dressed and held herself with such sophistication alone gave me a truly vivid picture of her. As for Unity, although I know she was very tall, I’m not sure why I got the idea that she was kind of dumpy looking, and not terribly attractive. So, I looked for pictures of her, and although she wasn’t totally unappealing, she did look quite dull compared to Nancy and Diana. This proves that Benedict did a superlative job of giving me the right images for her main characters.

Obviously, aside from the relationship between these three, there’s an “affair” going on, as the title of this novel hints. Actually, if you ask me, maybe the book should have been called “The Mitfords’ Affairs” since all three of them were involved in one type of sticky situation or another, and sometimes a couple at the same time. This is what makes Benedict’s latest book a real page-turner, even if you already know much about the history of these women (which I do from Knight’s novel). The bottom line is, while I had a hard time feeling much sympathy for Diana and Unity (pity would be a better word), I’m not sure I was able to fall in love with Nancy either (no, I didn’t cry). That said, this novel reinforced my caring and admiration for Nancy, as well as my incredulity regarding her sisters. Because of this, I’m very warmly recommending this novel, and for me I can rate it 4.75 stars out of five! In fact, I think people should read both these novels; they don’t contradict each other, and together they give us a picture of Nancy Mitford that fully complex and multifaceted!

There have been so many books written regarding the 6 Mitford sisters, it seems as if the public simply cannot get enough.
I commend Benedict, who writes about who writes about women in history, for tackling three of the sisters’ stories beset in the critical era of the 1930s.
Benedict handles her difficult characters with class and tolerance, more than I could. Diana and Unity were loathsome creatures and Unity was a perfect tool, illustrated by the author’s depiction.
I don’t have much regard for their indifferent parents who reared them with benign neglect.
The only Mitford sister in the book who is palatable is Nancy.
It’s a well written book that handles very prickly issues and personalities.