A Fine Old Conflict

A Fine Old Conflict is Jessica Mitford's memoir covering her years as an American Communist Party member from the 1940s through the McCarthy era. The book serves as a sequel to her earlier autobiography Hons and Rebels, picking up after her immigration to the United States. Through her direct, often humorous voice, Mitford recounts her political activism, her work with civil rights causes, and her navigation of Cold War tensions. She details both the day-to-day realities of American communist organizing and the broader social dynamics of the period. Against the backdrop of anti-communist fervor and FBI surveillance, Mitford portrays her family life with husband Bob Treuhaft and their engagement in various progressive movements. The narrative traces their experiences from California to Washington D.C. as they pursue both political goals and legal careers. The memoir illustrates the intersection of personal conviction and public life during a pivotal period in American history. Through Mitford's perspective, it explores themes of political idealism, social justice, and the price of maintaining unpopular beliefs in times of cultural upheaval.

Readers note this memoir captures Mitford's involvement in the American Communist Party during the 1950s with her characteristic wit and self-deprecating humor. Readers appreciated: - Detailed insights into daily Party activities and culture - Behind-the-scenes look at civil rights organizing - Light, humorous writing style despite serious subject matter - Personal perspective on McCarthy-era politics Common criticisms: - Less engaging than Mitford's other memoirs - Too much focus on mundane Party bureaucracy - Lacks depth in examining complex political issues - Some readers found the tone too flippant given the subject Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (86 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) "She manages to make even Communist Party meetings sound funny," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another commented that while entertaining, the book "skims the surface of deeper ideological questions." LibraryThing reviewers frequently compared it unfavorably to her earlier memoir Hons and Rebels.

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🔷 Jessica Mitford was one of the famous Mitford sisters, an eccentric aristocratic English family that included Nancy Mitford (novelist), Diana (fascist sympathizer), and Unity (Hitler supporter) - making Jessica's communist activism even more remarkable. 🔷 "A Fine Old Conflict" takes its title from an old communist song, reflecting Mitford's sardonic humor about her years in the American Communist Party during the McCarthy era. 🔷 The book serves as a sequel to her earlier memoir "Hons and Rebels," and chronicles her life in America after fleeing her privileged British upbringing to pursue radical politics. 🔷 Despite being a committed communist, Mitford became wealthy through her investigative journalism, particularly her exposé of the funeral industry in "The American Way of Death," leading some to criticize her as a champagne socialist. 🔷 During the period covered in the book, Mitford and her husband Bob Treuhaft ran a radical law practice in Oakland, California, that represented labor unions and civil rights activists, including the Black Panthers.