I really enjoyed this book! I’ve long been a fan of graphic novels and this style was so unique and inventive, I really appreciated the way the illustrations and text were spaced and organized. The whole book felt very human, which is sometimes a hard thing to feel in a graphic novel with traditional comic panels and typed text. I also appreciated that the author didn’t shy away from talking about the dark aspects of the Mitford sisters’ lives, especially their Nazi ties. A lot of historical biographies tend to attempt glorification in a way that tries to hide negative associations like that, and it was refreshing that that didn’t happen here.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

Wow, Just wow. I don't know how I made it this far in life and not heard of the Mitford sisters. Upper class and wealthy, the six Mitford sisters stretched the boundaries of what upper class woman could do and be. Fascists, communists, divorcees, friends of Hitler, relatives of Churchill, heiresses, duchesses, prisoners, writers, and so much more, every sister's story is nonstop excitement and intrigue. With a TV series recently on BritBox, I'm very grateful to have read this book and I look forward to learning more about this family.

So how much do you know of the Mitford Sisters? Did you know that one was a personal friend of Adolf Hitler while another was a Communist who had traveled to Spain to cover the Civil War? Or that several of the sisters became well-known authors in England and the United States? Mimi Pond invites the reader to come with her on a graphic exploration of these sisters whose lives intersected with so much of 20th Century history.

Mimi Pond sets the stage for the entrance of the sisters with a graphic summarization of each sister in chronological order - Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah. She follows this with an interlude of how she became interested in these British ladies while growing up in in 1960-1970s southern California. During the rest of the book Mimi pops herself in briefly. Then it is back to 1920's England for the Mitford Sisters saga. Pond takes the time to highlight each sister and the interactions they had with each other and the larger world as they grew. Nancy became friends with a number of up and coming authors such as Brian Howard and Evelyn Waugh through her brother Tom and started mining her family for her writings. Pamela tended to hang out in the countryside. Diana married to get out of the house but then met up and flung herself upon Oswald Moseley who formed the British Union of Fascists. Unity met and befriended Adolf Hitler while traveling in Germany. She survived shooting herself in the head after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939. Jessica had set up a "running away" fund at a local bank at age 12. She used that fund to travel to Spain with radical journalist Esmond Romilly to cover the Spanish Civil War. The two married and moved to the United States. After Esmond's death as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, she married Bob Treuhaft, a civil right lawyer. She later wrote several muckraking books such as The American Way of Death. Deborah was know for her expressions, but her marriage to Andrew Cavendish paid off when she became the Duchess of Devonshire at the age of 40. The Cavendish's now had 5 country estates to care for and maintain with Chatsworth House being the most famous. All the sisters' tales are followed until they reach their end.

Mimi Pond takes what could be a boring topic but with her drawings, page design, and text keep the reader exploring the lives of these women and learning the impact they had on history that most readers likely did not know. This title provides an interesting picture into a family and a time fading into history that should be remembered!

Thanks Netgalley and Drawn & Quarterly for the chance to read this title!

The Mitford Sisters have always held a place in history, for their ridiculously varied choices in life. The new show adds a bit of pop culture fun to this graphic novel biography. Hitler's darling? A Guinness heiress who leaves her fortune and normalcy for a fascist and ends up in prison? A communist? A writer? A duchess? A normal aristocratic woman and poultry connoisseur? This family is wild.

I recently finished "Do Admit" by Mimi Pond, and I have to say it left a lasting impression on me. Pond's writing is both poignant and humorous, deftly capturing the complexities of memory and the nuances of personal relationships.

The story draws you in with its engaging characters and vivid settings, making it easy to feel connected to the protagonist's journey. I appreciated how Pond explores themes of identity and the passage of time, which resonated deeply with me. The dialogue is sharp and witty, adding a lively rhythm to the narrative that kept me turning the pages.

My only critique would be that at times, the pacing felt a bit uneven, especially in the middle sections. Some parts seemed to meander before picking back up, which made it hard to stay fully invested. However, the emotional payoff in the end was worth it.

Overall, "Do Admit" is a beautifully crafted memoir that combines humor and heart. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a reflective and engaging read. It's earned a solid four stars from me!

Just finished reading this amazing book on the Mitford sisters by the brilliant Mimi Pond out on
@dandq.bsky.social in September. So excellent. So relevant. You’re going to love it.

Do Admit is a very interesting read about the Mitford sisters who I had heard of but didn’t really know much about. The graphic illustrative nature of the book makes it more interesting and I love the monochrome style.

Beautifully illustrated, but I am not the most fluent graphic novel reader. A couple of the pages were a bit confusing in that I didn't know where to look.
Ultimately a nice introduction for someone hoping to dip into the Mitford lore.

A Dazzling Graphic Biography That Captures the Glamour and Complexity of the Mitford Sisters

Mimi Pond's Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me is a masterful blend of personal memoir and historical biography, brought to life through her signature wit and expressive illustrations. This 444-page graphic novel delves into the lives of the six Mitford sisters—Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah—whose aristocratic upbringing and divergent political affiliations made them both celebrated and controversial figures in 20th-century Britain.

Pond intertwines her own 1950s Southern California childhood with the Mitfords' stories, offering a unique perspective that highlights the sisters' influence on her imagination and artistic sensibilities. Her dry humor and empathetic storytelling provide depth to each sister's narrative, capturing their individual complexities and the broader societal shifts they navigated.

The artwork is a visual delight, reminiscent of classic Vanity Fair caricatures and the satirical illustrations of Charles Addams. Pond's illustrations vividly depict the opulence and decay of the Mitfords' world, enhancing the narrative's emotional resonance.

Critics have lauded Do Admit for its inventive storytelling and rich visual style. Alison Bechdel praised it as "a spectacular, dizzying romp through the tumult of the twentieth century," noting Pond's ability to bring coherence to the sprawling narratives of the sisters' lives. Seth described it as "a massive work almost big enough to encompass the enormous egos and lives of these fascinating (and sometimes frightening) women," emphasizing its entertaining and visually inventive approach.

Whether you're well-versed in the Mitford legacy or new to their story, Do Admit offers an engaging and insightful exploration of their lives. Pond's fusion of personal reflection and historical biography results in a work that is both informative and deeply personal.

We will be purchasing this one at our library. This is the kind of subject and format that has always been a hit with our student patrons.