The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family (81 page)

Mitford, Helen (aunt) 35, 253, 261

Mitford, Jack (uncle) 11, 114, 232

Mitford, Jessica Lucy Freeman (‘Decca’), later Romilly, then Treuhaft: birth (sixth child) 41–2; appearance 158, 178; character 158, 513; childhood 44–5, 46, 47–52, 77–8, 88–91, 95–6, 99, 103–4; problem with riding 48, 49, 65–6, 303; and family teasing 50, 54, 72, 73; and Society of Hons 51–2; relationship with sisters 52; boredom and rebelliousness 52, 56–7, 103, 104–6, 157–9, 180–1, 204, 217–18; education at home creates dissatisfaction 52, 56–7, 76, 81, 116–17; relationship with Nancy 54, 65, 149, 165, 170–1, 233–4, 260, 462; relationship with mother 59–60, 61–2; relationship with father 69, 103–4, 122–4, 243–4; pets 77–8, 81, 99, 109, 110, 122, 279; dance classes end in disgrace 78; on Diana’s character 94–5; develops interest in social politics 117–19, 121, 122, 164; closeness to Unity 118, 122, 173, 190, 191, 203–4, 257–8, 260, 283, 312, 350–1; friendship with Idden Farrer 120–1, 122; reaction to Peter Rodd 152–3; finishing year in Paris 165–6, 171; and Communism 165, 166, 177–8, 204, 255, 350; intrigued by Esmond Romilly 170, 179–80; visits Germany 174, 176, 177; coming-out 178–80; more trips abroad 202–4, 212–13; meets Esmond and runs away to Spain 218–37; finances 234, 239–40, 277–9, 281–2, 351; pregnancy and marriage 237–40, 243, 245, 254–6; and domestic chores 238, 259, 404–5; home in Rotherhithe 254–5, 258; manner of speech 255; market research job and reaction to working-class people 255, 276; plunders homes of rich friends 256; birth and death of Julia 258–60; parents forbid family to visit her 260–1; hostility to Diana 260, 264, 349, 350–1, 374–5, 383, 440, 446, 464, 470, 483 486–8, 494, 500, 503, 506, 516; activism 263–4; abortion 270–2; political vision 276–7; move to Edgware Road 278; emigration and farewell raid on Eton College 278–81; American friendships 281, 283, 317–18; jobs 281–2, 291–2, 314, 316, 319, 365–9, 385, 448; move to Greenwich village 282; visited by Pam 291; correspondence with family 301–2, 304, 310, 339–42, 382–3, 385–7, 395, 403, 432; move to Washington 302–3; depicted in
Pigeon Pie
310; and American press 312–13, 375–6; move to Miami 314–17; and Esmond’s enlistment 317–18; pregnancy and birth of Constancia (Dinky) 318, 319, 337–8; correspondence with Esmond 318–19, 337–8, 342–5; visits Esmond in Canada 320, 341; miscarriage 343; takes stenography course 343, 350, 352; and Esmond’s death 345–52; meeting with Churchill and reaction to his gift 347–50; work for OPA 365, 366–7, 369, 370, 372; meets Bob Treuhaft and moves to San Francisco 366–72; investigated by FBI 372, 448; marries Bob 372–4; and US citizenship 374, 403; letter to Churchill about Mosleys 375–6; joins Communist Party 376; births of Nicholas and Benjamin 385, 405–6, 408; and Tom’s death 393, 394–5; causes rift over Inch Kenneth 401–3; mother’s visit 406–8; and civil rights 408, 428–30, 447, 448, 471; and Unity’s death 412–13; refused passport 418, 428, 432–3; Debo’s visit 428; subpoenaed by Committee on Un-American activities 430–2; and death of Nicholas 433–4; passport mistake enables trip to UK and Europe 434–46; passport confiscated on return 446; leaves Communist Party 448; publishes booklet 449; receives Romilly inheritance 449–50, 462; return of passport and trip to England 450; jealous of Nancy’s trip to Russia 453; cut out of father’s will 456, 462; purchase of Inch Kenneth 462; trip to England and publication of
Hons and Rebels
462–71; relationship with Bob 463, 483; subsequent books and articles 471, 472, 477–81, 506–7, 513, 514; visit to Inch Kenneth and row with mother over book 472–3; and mother’s death 475–6; trips to Europe 482–3, 494; sells Inch Kenneth 483–4; comment on sisters 484; and Nancy’s illness 486–8, 489–90; accepts academic posts 493–4; involvement in biography of Unity causes rift with sisters 494–500; relationship with Debo 495–7, 499–500, 509; and Diana’s sons 500–1, 510–11; subject of BBC documentary 507; guest on
Desert Island Discs
507; causes further rift over documentary on Nancy 508–9; reaction to books about Mitfords 510–13; stroke, and alcohol and smoking problems 513–14, 519–21; trip to Russia 514; and Salman Rushdie case 514–15; and Pam’s death 517–19; illness, death and memorial services 521–4; see also American Way of Birth, The; American Way of Death, The;
Faces of Philip
;
Grace Had an English Heart
;
Hons and Rebels
; Kind and Usual Punishment;
Poison Penmanship

Mitford, Joan see Farrer, Joan

Mitford, Nancy Freeman, later Rodd: birth (eldest child) 17–18; appearance 22, 37, 66, 356, 425; character 75, 425–6, 477, 479; depictions of her parents and childhood 16, 21–2, 27–8, 29, 48, 57–9, 424, 472–3; stories, teasing and sharp wit 22, 45, 47, 54–6, 65, 68, 77, 88–9, 107, 109, 165, 189–90, 191, 202, 354; childhood 22–5, 26–31, 33–5, 41, 43, 44–5, 47–52, 54; jealous of sisters 22, 26; education 26, 41, 42, 43, 52–5, 56; relationship with father 28, 36–7, 52, 64, 69–70, 72, 73–4, 79, 331, 332, 396; and hunting 47, 48, 67, 491; skill in acting and disguise 50, 55–6; and Society of Hons 51–2; relationship with mother 59–60, 301, 331–2, 333, 472–3; trips to Europe 62–5, 81–2; coming out 66–8, 75; involvement with
Brideshead
set, and father’s bad behaviour towards friends 68–74; relationship with Hamish St Clair Erskine, suicide attempt and proposal from Hugh Smiley 97, 107–8, 148–51; briefly attends Slade School 107; early career as writer 107, 110, 113–14, 147–8, 149, 168–70; friendship with Waugh 109, 110; attitude to politics 119; reaction to Diana’s affair 145, 150; finances 147, 149, 194, 275–6; marriage to Peter Rodd 151–3, 164, 165, 167, 168; attends BUF meetings 164, 168; influence on Decca 170–1; rift with Diana and Unity 193–4, 196–7, 212–13, 260; turns against Fascism 196, 294, 295, 300, 301; marriage problems 212–13, 355, 390; goes to find Decca 229, 233–4, 236; miscarriage 269, 275–6; helps Spanish refugees 293–5; war work 301, 331, 353–4; helps to look after Unity and writes
Pigeon Pie
309–10; informs on Diana 325, 329–30; and bombing of London 330–1, 389–90; affair with André Roy and ectopic pregnancy 333, 352–3, 354–5; improved relations with Diana 353, 418–19; runs bookshop 353; social life 354; affair with Gaston Palewski 355–8, 390, 396–9, 408–9, 424–6, 453–4, 461–2, 485–6, 489, 491–2, 502, 512; opens bookshop 396; moves to rue Monsieur, Paris 396–9, 403, 425, 426–7; reunion with Diana and Debo 418–19; divorce 426; as biographer 426, 450–1, 453, 488; and Decca’s visits to Paris 444–5, 482–3; gifts to Decca 445, 462; international success 450–3; translation work 453; trip to Russia 453; summers in Venice 454, 461; dislike of Mosley 461; reaction to Decca’s book 468–9; and mother’s death 475; comment on sisters 484; move to rue d’Artois 485; learns of Palewski’s marriage and becomes ill 485–90; visits Berlin 488; receives honours 489; death and funeral 490–3; biographies of 497, 511–12; TV documentary on 507–9; see also Blessing, The; Christmas Pudding;
Don’t Tell Alfred
;
Frederick the Great
;
Highland Fling
;
Love in a Cold Climate
; Madame de Pompadour;
Noblesse Oblige
;
Pigeon Pie
; Pursuit of Love, The;
Voltaire in Love
; Water Beetle, The;
Wigs on the Green

Mitford, Pamela (‘Woman’/‘Woo’), later Jackson: birth (second child) 22; appearance 128, 493; character 65, 74, 446, 477, 483, 509; childhood 26, 27–31, 33–5, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47–52; contracts polio 30, 31; education 41, 42, 43, 79; sensitive to ghosts 44; and riding 48, 420; and ‘Bailey Week’ 49; and dancing lessons 53; and Girl Guides 54; and Nancy’s teasing 54, 55, 77; runs general strike canteen 55; love of country life 65, 74; coming out 74, 76–7; trip to Paris 81; brief engagement to Oliver Watney 96–7, 128; visit to Swastika 97–8; manages Biddesden 127–8, 167; relationship with John Betjeman 128–30; supports Diana 150; attends BUF meetings 164; leaves Biddesden and travels 185–6; meets Hitler 186; marriage to Derek Jackson 214–17, 261; gynaecological surgery and miscarriages 241, 261, 403; visits Decca in New York and takes transatlantic flight 291–3; relationship with Decca 301–2, 446, 496, 498, 509; takes in Mosley children 324, 327; management of Rignell House farm during war 341–2; takes in Mosleys 379, 380–1; move to Ireland 419–20; divorce 420–1; move to Switzerland 420; love of travelling 420; helps Nancy with research 488; and Nancy’s illness 489, 491; opposition to biography of Unity 496, 498; appears in documentary on Nancy 508, 509; holiday with Diana 515–16; death 517–19

Mitford, Rosemary, later Bailey (cousin) 35, 47, 49, 119, 261; marriage 351

Mitford, Sydney, née Bowles, Lady Redesdale (mother): appearance 15; character 15, 20, 21–2, 59–60, 61–2, 71–2, 126, 245; childhood, education and meeting with David 9–11, 12–13, 14–15, 19–20; love of the sea 12–13, 21; marriage 15–16; births of children 17–18, 20, 22, 33, 41, 47, 110; household management 20–1, 76; and Old Mill Cottage 26–7; and country pursuits 29–30; attitude to health and food 30–1, 44, 121, 268; visits to Canada 32–3; and finances 37, 40–1, 42–3, 44, 68, 201; and Batsford 39–44; attitude to education 41, 56, 103, 105, 116–17; relationship with husband 41–2; and move to Asthall Manor 44; relationship with children 58, 59–62; local work 58, 59; and death of father 62; welcomes visitors 70; as daughters’ chaperone 75–6, 79; trips to Paris 78, 79–82, 165, 171, 202; and Rutland Gate 82, 331, 332–3; as pianist 86; dislike of Swinbrook House 87; reaction to daughters’ engagements 95, 96, 97; dislike of Bright Young People 111; children’s nicknames for 124; favourite hymn 129; reaction to daughters’ books 148, 424, 465, 466–7, 472–3; conflict with Nancy 149, 301, 331–3; reaction to Diana’s relationship with Mosley 150, 164–5, 212; visits to Germany 171, 174, 176–7, 181, 253, 268, 269; and Fascism 181; meets Hitler and supports him 185, 243, 293, 300, 301; reaction to daughters’ links with Nazis 189, 192, 193; cruises 202–4; and Decca’s elopement 224, 227, 230–1, 232, 235, 236–7, 240, 244; visit to Italy and Austria 242–3; and daughters’ portraits 254; and press publicity 258, 274; and Decca’s baby 258–9; and Inch Kenneth 287, 400–3, 438; correspondence with Decca 301, 304, 339–40, 382–3, 385–7, 395, 403, 432; fetches Unity from Switzerland 305–10; split with David over her Fascism 310–12, 332, 333–4, 399–400; nurses Unity 312, 332; visits Diana in prison 329, 359; and wartime conditions 341, 382–3; begs Decca to come home 351, 366; and daughters’ illnesses 352–3; appeals for Mosleys’ release 377–8; and Tom’s death 393, 394–5, 400; visits Decca 406–8; and Unity’s death 412–13; and family albums 432, 439; attitude to Decca 428, 436, 446; still sees David 436; and Decca’s visit 438; and David’s death 455; illness 466; death 474–6

Mitford, Tom: birth (third child) 22; appearance 114; character 92–3, 245; childhood 23–5, 27–31, 33–5, 41, 44–5, 47–52; education 41, 42, 43–5; chooses books for father’s library 45; dislike of hunting 48; relationship with sisters 50, 51, 52, 73, 111, 173–4; friendships 74, 93, 114–15, 243, 390–1; as musician 86, 93; studies German 92, 98; sexuality 93, 97; love of Germany 93; studies law 93, 167; support for Decca 106, 231, 257, 394–5; and Fascism 107, 186, 197, 257, 286, 391, 461, 508–9; as skater 114; holiday in Venice 141; girlfriends 141; disapproval of Diana’s affair 145–6; meets Hitler and attends Nazi rally 186, 197; in Territorial Army 244, 286; war service and postings 301, 350, 354, 377, 386–7, 389; lobbies for improvement in Mosleys’ prison conditions 363; leave 390–2, 414; thinks of marrying 391; death in Burma 392–5, 400–1

Mitford, Tommy (uncle) 48, 82

Mitford, Unity Valkyrie (‘Bobo’): conception in Swastika and birth (fifth child) 33; appearance 100, 125, 173; character 103, 106, 118, 125–6, 266–7; childhood 41, 44–5, 47–52, 55, 65, 72, 73, 88, 89, 99–100, 103; dislike of hunting 48, 106; and Society of Hons 51; relationship with sisters 52; education at home 76, 81; trip to Paris 81; pets 90, 109, 125, 206, 308, 382; gives Pam’s ring to Hitler 96–7; boredom 106; as skater 114; school attendances and expulsions 116–17, 119–20; closeness to Decca 118, 122, 173, 190, 191, 203–4, 257–8, 260, 283, 412–13; early interest in Fascism 118, 121–2, 140, 159; coming out 124–5, 140; friendship with Rudbin Farrer 124–5; favourite hymn 129; and art school 150; support for Diana 150; joins BUF 156, 157, 163–4; visits Germany and attends first Nazi rally 159–62; finishing year in Germany 166–7, 171–7, 181–9, 202; depicted in
Wigs on the Green
168–70, 193–4, 197, 212; tries to see Hitler 172, 175–6, 181; reaction to Night of the Long Knives 173; attends Nazi rallies 174; salutes Putsch memorial and embarrasses mother 176–7; first meetings with Hitler 181–7; letter to Der Stürmer and subsequent publicity 187–91; anti-Semitism 187–9, 285–6; owns pistol 190; activism in England 190–1, 264–6; chaperoned by father in Munich 192–3; and family cruise 202–4; attacks on 203, 265–6; life in Germany and developing friendship with Hitler 204–5, 206–8, 231, 244, 247–52; boyfriend 206; reaction to Decca’s elopement 228–9, 231, 235, 237; correspondence with Churchill about Austria 242; concern to prevent war 249, 289, 290; extent of relationship with Hitler 250–1, 258, 266, 267–9, 287–8; and Putzi Hanfstaengl’s defection 251–3, 284–5; arrested in Prague 266; illness 268–9; relationship with Janos von Almassy 270, 290; writes article for
Daily Mirror
284; friendship with Erna Hanfstaengl stopped by Hitler 284–5; Hitler arranges flat for 285–6, 290; visit to England (1939) 286; alleged remark to Hitler on London defences 288–9; and onset of war 288–91, 295; threatens suicide if war breaks out 289, 290; refusal to return to England 290; suicide attempt 295–300, 303, 304; reaches Switzerland and brought back to England 304–11; effect of brain damage 311–12, 313, 314, 333–4, 391–2; interest in religion 313, 411; appearance at Debo’s wedding leads to questions in parliament 340; recovery 340–1, 377, 389, 391, 411; love of Swinbrook 403; illness and death 411–13; Pryce-Jones’s biography causes rift among sisters 494–9