Letters Between Six Sisters

Letters Between Six Sisters presents the correspondence of the Mitford sisters, spanning much of the 20th century. The collection captures the private communications between Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah - six women from an aristocratic English family who became notable figures in literature, politics, and society. Editor Charlotte Mosley draws from over 12,000 letters to construct an intimate portrait of these complex siblings and their relationships. The sisters wrote to each other about everything from daily life and family drama to their involvement in major historical events and interactions with prominent figures of their time. The letters track the sisters' divergent paths as they moved through British high society, fascist politics, communist activism, and the American countryside. Their correspondence reveals both their fierce loyalty to each other and their intense conflicts over opposing ideological views. Through these private exchanges, the book illuminates how family bonds persist through political division, war, and social upheaval. The collection offers insights into both a remarkable family dynamic and the broader transformations of the 20th century.

Readers note the intimate glimpse into the lives of the Mitford sisters through their candid correspondence across decades. Many appreciate the historical context and personal details revealed through the letters, with several mentioning the value of seeing major 20th century events through six different perspectives. Liked: - Charlotte Mosley's editing and annotations provide clarity - Balance of humor and serious topics - Reveals complex family dynamics - First-hand accounts of historical moments Disliked: - Length (800+ pages) can be overwhelming - Some letters feel repetitive - Prior knowledge of Mitford sisters needed - Political discussions can be uncomfortable Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (120+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Like eavesdropping on private conversations spanning 80 years" One reader noted: "The footnotes are essential - without them much context would be lost." Several reviewers mentioned difficulty keeping track of the sisters' nicknames for each other.

The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters by Charlotte Mosley The letters between the eccentric Mitford sisters reveal their personal lives, political differences, and experiences during World War II and beyond.

Dearest Jean: Selected Letters of Vita Sackville-West to Jean Nicolson 1946-1957 by Vita Sackville-West and Louise DeSalvo Letters between writer Vita Sackville-West and her friend reveal life in post-war Britain and discussions of gardens, literature, and social circles.

Love from Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford by Charlotte Mosley The collected correspondence of the eldest Mitford sister chronicles her life as a novelist, her wartime experiences, and her observations of British aristocracy.

Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford by Jessica Mitford, Peter Y. Sussman The correspondence of the rebellious Mitford sister presents her journey from aristocrat to Communist to investigative journalist in America.

Letters of the Six Wives of Henry VIII by James Crawford, Suzannah Lipscomb The personal letters of Henry VIII's wives document their perspectives on Tudor court life, political intrigue, and relationships with the king.

🖋️ The letters span nearly eight decades of correspondence between the Mitford sisters, from 1925 to 2003, offering an intimate view of some of the 20th century's most significant events. 📚 Charlotte Mosley, the editor, is the daughter-in-law of Diana Mitford and had unprecedented access to family archives and previously unpublished letters. 👥 The six Mitford sisters were famous for their dramatically different political alignments: Diana was a Fascist, Jessica a Communist, Unity a Hitler devotee, Nancy a novelist, Deborah a Duchess, and Pamela a countrywoman. ✉️ The collection contains over 12,000 letters, but only about 5% of them were selected for publication in the book. 🗝️ The sisters developed their own private language and code words, including "Farve" for father, "Muv" for mother, and "Hen" as a term of endearment for each other.