The Mitford Affair

“It is a pattern that has repeated itself since our childhood; she always dazzles at the center, with us sisters fanned out around her like lesser beams. Never mind that the press considers all six of us Mitford sisters the very essence of the so-called Bright Young Things, she is the star.”

This quote characterizes Diana’s famous beauty and glamour, and Nancy’s acute sense of this. All of the Mitfords are part of the young, vibrant society group known as the “Bright Young Things.” This passage establishes the rivalry which exists between Nancy and Diana and gives the reader important context about the family’s social milieu and fame.

“Even amid my five sisters, I’ve always been something of the outsider. With each sister usually paired off or teamed up—in childhood, Jessica with Unity, Pamela with Deborah, and Diana with Tom, like golden twins—I’ve often been alone.”

In this passage, Nancy is characterized as the loner of her family. As the eldest, she has had certain responsibilities that her younger siblings haven’t, and she has been the one to be looked up to, not befriended. Thus, Nancy is lonely within her family unit. This characterization is important because it emphasizes Nancy’s strength and self-reliance on her intellect, and her position as a writer, observing the family and their dynamics.

“There are Londoners right outside the gates on the brink of despair, sharing their disgust with her conspicuous excess in the face of worldwide depression. How dare she and Bryan spend their fortune on meaningless parties and acquisitions while so many struggle and starve with unemployment, they cry.”

This passage highlights the luxury of the Mitfords’ lifestyle in a time of national hardship. In particular, Diana’s opulent lifestyle is distasteful even to some in her own set. This early passage is important in establishing Diana’s character and her approach to life, which helps to situate her later political choices: Although fascism was a popular movement and was largely driven by unrest and deprivation among working people, this passage shows that Diana’s fascist beliefs are not driven by a sense of compassion for those less fortunate than herself.