Before reading The Mitford Affair, were you familiar with the Mitford sisters? If so, how has your understanding of these eccentric, beautiful, aristocratic sisters changed, if at all?

Before reading The Mitford Affair, were you familiar with the famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) Mitford sisters? If so, how has your understanding of these eccentric, beautiful, aristocratic sisters changed, if at all?

I had never heard of them. I am half way into the book and as different as all the sisters are, I keep wondering where all this rebelliousness and unconventional behaviors came from. I am not seeing in the parents but one thinks those traits have been nourished in childhood. I wish I knew more about their history.

Yes. I had about a two sentence knowledge of the Mitford sisters. Then I discovered the Mitford murder mystery fiction series by Jessica Fellowes. These books are delightful but not very informative historically. I learned so much from The Midford Affair. I have read all of Marie Benedict's books and this was one of my favorites.

I was unfamiliar with the story of the Mitford sisters prior to reading this book. I love history and always enjoy reading and learning the "backstories" of many famous events and people. When we learn more about the past I think it shows us how even the people who shaped historical events are people just like us with desires and motivations beyond what is told in the history books. Like my uncle who was one of the first flag raisers on Iwo Jima, I know him in my family as kind uncle Jimmy with the beautiful blue eyes who raised four beautiful daughters. There are many great stories that are not in history books.

I was not familiar with the Mitford sisters and as I read the book I wondered what members of the family inspired them, or why did they feel they must show their independence.

I was not familiar with these sisters, but very familiar with Marie Benedict's books, having read many.

Like "forann" I was not familiar with the Mitford sisters, although the titles of some of her books were vaguely familiar.

I had read works by Jessica and Nancy. as well as Nancy's letters. The latter, before reading the novel gave me the general impression that she was a caustic, witty socialite who was a good biographer but lacked the milk of human kindness. Benedict's novel changed my opinion. I still don't know for certain but am inclined to change my opinion of Nancy's thoughtfulness. I think Benedict may have gotten it right. I knew less beforehand of Unity and Diana but I think she may have given us a good analysis of those two as well. I liked the novel so well I just finished the one on Hedy Lamar as well.

Yes, I recently read the Mayfair bookshop which similarly captures the differs personalities of the sisters. Nope, no change- the sisters were characters.

I was not familiar with the Mitford sisters prior to reading this book. Reading the book has triggered my interest so I’m going to dig more into their story. Additionally, I plan to read Marie Benedict’s “Lady Clementine” next to find out about their “Cousin Clemmie.”

I was not familiar with the Mitford sisters but really enjoyed learning about them. As I read their story I wondered how different their lives might have been if their parents would have allowed them to receive a formal education.

I wasn't familiar with the Mitford sisters before I read this book and found them very interesting to read about. After I finished the book, I googled a lot of information to learn more about them.

I was totally unfamiliar with the Mitford's and found the story thoroughly fascinating. Such an uncanny parallel to many of the events that have recently taken place in our own country. The parents were an interesting duo seeming to me to be a bit wishy-washy in their beliefs. Their economic downturn was also probably quite familiar to other aristocrats during that time.

I knew nothing about the Mitford family prior to reading the book, and not much about the time period between the wars either. It's interesting, however, when a name or topic enters your mind, it often pops up elsewhere. For example, I'm currently reading The Paris Library and one of the authors referenced is Nancy Mitford.

I knew very little about the Mitford family prior to reading this book. As a result, the entire time I was reading The Mitford Affair I was looking up photos of the sisters, their husbands, the homes, on and on. Found myself spending as much time looking them up as I did reading the book.

I hadn't heard of the Mitford Sisters before reading the book, either. Like mimimw, I was on Wikipedia quite a bit while reading the novel. I learned a lot about them from the book, but still had tons of questions about their lives.

I was not familiar with the Mitford sisters before reading this book. I have since done some research and plan on reading more about the sisters. With their varying political philosophies they seem to have embodied (amazingly in one family) all that was unfolding in Great Britain at that time.

I hae read all of Marie Benedict's books and enjoyed them all. That is why I chose to read this book. I had never heard of the Mitford sisters. I do think Ms. Benedict missed a chance to give us more background on the sisters. I felt disappointed I did not have any evidence of why the family went off the rails. Did they lose the family business? Were they part German? Had they suffered terribly in the first war?? Even the parents did not seem loyal to the British cause. But why??

I had read the first of the Mitford Mysteries series so I knew about the Mitfords before reading the book. When I read historical novels, I do background reading on the real characters. Benedict’s depictions of the motivations behind the sisters’ actions “fleshed out” the factual information I had read about them.

I was familiar with the Mitford Sisters with previous books which touched on them.
This book filled out for me all the sisters, not just Nancy. I enjoyed that about this book.

I had not heard of the Mitford sisters before reading "The Mitford Affair". I'm about halfway through my reading and I'm finding their story fascinating! Very much looking forward to researching more about the Mitford family.

I knew nothing about the Mitford family, but I plan to research them more online. Very interesting.

Many years ago I read a biography of the Mitford siblings which first awakened my interest in the fascinating, dysfunctional family. I had forgotten many details about their lives, and The Mitford Affair brought them back, especially in the young adult lives of the sisters as WWII approached. This novel really illuminates their diverse characters but takes imaginative license in exploring possible motives for their actions and the complications of their relationships with each other.

I was not familiar, however, I was fascinated as I read to see the dynamics in the family grow and change as the world politics evolved around Hitler.We have certainly seen how families can be divided by political differences in our current time, but the Mitfords put their opinions into devastating action.

I had heard of the Mitford sisters through other reading, and I have read all of Marie Benedict's books, so thought this would be interesting. I was disappointed that more backstory wasn't included and I came away thinking that the Mitford sisters were totally silly, shallow and lacked any common sense! I plan to do some further research and maybe will change my mind.

I was not. I will definitely dive deeper into their histories now. I would love to see a chart of all their relations -- a family tree, but also incorporating their social circles. Unbelievable how connected, and to whom, they were. I'd like to know about Decca's life and legacy in the US.

ABeman -- here's a family tree that visualizes the relationship between the Mitfords and Clementine, wife of Winston Churchill:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Mitford#/media/File:Mitford-selective-tree1.jpg

And this one shows the siblings, spouses and select descendants:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9571061/These-Mitford-sisters-scions-prove-just-worthy-attention-scandalous-relatives.html

(The Daily Mail will put up a paywall after a few page views, which is no great loss as I wouldn't trust it as a news source--but when it comes to gossip, which this article essentially is, it's second to none!)

I had never heard of the Milford Sisters before.

I had never heard of the Mitford sisters prior to reading this book. Although I have read many historical WWII novels, I've never read anything about this particular era in time, the rise of Hitler and fascism, the BUF, and the relationship between Great Britain and Germany prior to the war. I found this all very interesting, and was prompted to research further. It's amazing how these sisters embedded themselves into Hitler's innermost circle, the the effect it had on their entire family.

I had heard of this family but didn't know much. I was shocked by two of the sisters' relationship with Hitler. The sisters' colossal differences--in personalities and political leanings--made me want to understand their motivations better. Although I came to like Nancy, I didn't at first. I found them all to be unlikeable, which made it hard to pick the book up and spend time with them.

I had not heard of them before I read the book. I am not one who pays much attention to celebrity culture but there is so much out there about the Mitfords that I was surprised that I had not heard of them.

I knew Nancy Mitford to be a writer. I was not familiar with the relationship of the sisters. I was surprised by the pettiness and jealousies that existed between them and the lengths they would go to in order to get what each one wanted.

Yes. Jessica Fellowes has written a fiction series titled, A Mitford Murders Mystery. It appears to the reader that both authors have done extensive research on the Mitford family.

I wasn't familiar with the Mitford sisters or their family. I was fascinated when I read this book and looked up some more information.

Yes. Since I’ve long been fascinated by both English history and WWII, I’ve read all the non-fiction books and articles about them that I’ve come across. Documentaries too. And I’ve read a couple of Nancy’s books.

Interestingly, Benedict went further than most in painting Diana as an actual spy and having Nancy turn her in. By writing fiction she had the freedom to speculate on motives, personalities and family dynamics. I think (hope) her research led her to those conclusions.

To me Diana came across as self-centered, spoiled and cold. Unity was unloved, ignored and mentally unbalanced. Nancy tried to carry on a somewhat normal life and had to decide how to deal with both parents and sisters.