The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict is a wonderful historical fiction that gives us a small glimpse into the complicated, fascinating, and polarizing Mitford sisters.

Ms. Benedict is one of my favorite authors, so I was very keen to see how she would present the Mitford family.

The six Mitford sisters: Nancy, Diana, Unity, Jessica, Deborah, and Pamela are infamous and, at the same time, elusive. I have read quite a bit about them from a nonfiction standpoint, but I have never read any fictional accounts. This book mainly highlights Nancy, Diana, and Unity. We are able to travel to those few pivotal years right before WWII where those smoldering embers are just beginning to flame.

Ms. Benedict does an excellent job portraying these complex, jarring, complicated, and intriguing women…what parts they played in history…how they were similar…but yet also so different…and she gives a more personal account of these women that lived, amd made their mark, on the world at the cusp of the life-changing times that take place during the second World War.

I was engaged, entertained, and learned a few things along the way.

I really enjoyed it.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/17/23.

Another great book by Marie Benedict, I know I'm always in for a good time when I find a new book by her. Ms. Benedict has a great writing style that works so well for historical novels, she has a great way of making the history aspect come alive. The Mitford Affair was really well done and I enjoyed getting to go through this book. It was a great WW2 novel and I enjoyed getting to know the Mitford sisters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Benedict.

"They begin to tug her toward the steps bordering the stage, and she strains against them. “What about my sisters? We cannot leave them behind,” she insists, glancing behind her to see an empty row of seats. She scans the floor in a panic to see if they got trapped underfoot by the crush of people fleeing the hall. But Unity and Nancy are nowhere to be seen. What on earth has happened to them? Quite against herself, Diana feels like screaming."

An interesting dive into the psyches of Unity and Diana Mitford, and their development as loyal Fascists. The more prominent Nancy and Jessica take a back seat in this rendering of the famous Mitford sisters, while Deborah and Pamela barely rate a mention. Overall very entertaining and well-researched.

If we're not already in the thick of a Mitford renaissance, then brace yourselves, because I can feel it coming... and I am here for it in every way. These sisters, this whole family actually, are just undeniably fascinating. And THE MITFORD AFFAIR is only the beginning, the slightest glimpse, of what they have to offer.

For anyone who's new to Mitford lore, I think Marie Benedict's forthcoming novel is going to serve as a great jumping off point. Set primarily during the several years immediately preceding the outbreak of World War II, it follows just three of the six sisters, charting the foundation and development of Diana and Unity's far-right political leanings (Diana's second husband was Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Fascist movement; Unity was a close personal friend of Hitler) and Nancy's response to them. Initially apolitical and indifferent, she is eventually persuaded by Winston Churchill (a Mitford cousin!) to join the cause for peace, potentially at the cost of her sisters' freedom.

The history on show here was super accessible and well written, and remarkably for a historical fiction novel, I didn't take issue with too much of it. Benedict picked excellent subjects; of course all the sisters are perfectly interesting in their own right, but Diana and Unity's politics are definitely the most representative of the family, and you can't beat Nancy's star power as a novelist. Theirs is a story ripe for intrigue. (But also: #deccafangirl) That being said, my big criticism would be that the plot didn't really kick in until the very end of the book, so despite the potential, nothing about what was happening here felt particularly high stakes for me. I kept reading because I was already interested in the subject, but that might not be enough to keep other readers engaged. I haven't read any of Marie Benedict's other books, so I don't know whether the slow burn is standard for her or not.

The Milford family rocked England with their Nazi sympathies and involvement. This novel explains how a family that had everything could have become involved with Fascism in the years before WWII. The author is skilled at painting portraits of tge sisters during this turbulent era. I really enjoyed it., as an Anglophile and lover of well-written historical fiction.

I think it’s a great jumping off point for book groups and attempts to understand how these glorious young women became “radicalized” Nazi sympathizers.

Thank you Netgalley. For this ARC.

This is a story that seeps glamour and intrigue. From the very first page I was 100% invested and intrigued. I found something about each sister and wanted to turn around and learn more

As a Marie Benedict fan who loved "The Personal Librarian", I was enthralled with "the Mitford Affair". This World War Two drama is moving, emotional, and rich in detail, this is a must-read for any historical fiction lover.

Marie Benedict is an author that creates a world that you enter and never want to leave. She always writes about women who would otherwise be left to history. The Personal Librarian and Mystery of Mrs. Christie are both top notch books - always well researched and well written
The Mitford Affair takes places in London pre - World War II and looks at the 6 sisters in the well-to-do Mitford family.
Two of the sisters, Diana and Unity marry members of the fascist, rising Nazi party. Diana divorces her husband to marry the new man. It is Unity's first marriage. They are disowned by three of the sisters and Nancy, a writer, is the only one who stays in touch.
Nancy is frightened for them both and becomes embroiled in radical politics as Diana and Unity become spies for the Nazi regime. There are even rumors that Unity is Hitler's mistress -- that is how entrenched in the party that she is.
Nancy works hard to stop the rising tide and does her part to end the war.
You cannot go wrong with any of Benedict's work. This book is no exception