Nancy Mitford
Nancy Mitford was a prominent English novelist born on November 28, 1904, into an aristocratic family in London, the Freeman-Mitford family. As one of seven siblings, she experienced a unique upbringing with a mother who homeschooled them. Her familial connections were complex, with her sisters aligning with fascist ideologies, contrasting sharply with Mitford and another sister, Jessica, who embraced socialism. Mitford’s literary career began in the early 1930s, with her novels often satirizing the English upper class and drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and family dynamics. Notable works include "The Pursuit of Love" and its sequel "Love in a Cold Climate," both of which integrate elements of her life, including her romantic involvement with Charles de Gaulle's Chief of Staff, Colonel Gaston Palewski. Beyond fiction, she made a significant impact on social commentary with her work "Noblesse Oblige," which explored class distinctions in language. Mitford was recognized for her contributions to literature, being appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972, and she passed away on June 30, 1973, in Versailles, France. Her legacy endures through her insightful portrayals of society and distinctive narrative style.
On this Page
Nancy Mitford
Writer
- Born: November 28, 1904
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: June 30, 1973
- Place of death: Versailles, France
Biography
Nancy Mitford was born on November 28, 1904, in London, England. She was one of seven children of the second Baron Redesdale. Her family were members of the aristocracy and the family name was Freeman-Mitford. All of the children received their education at home from their mother.
Mitford’s parents were supporters of the British Union of Fascists. Her sister Diana married the party’s leader Oswald Mosley. Her sister Unity developed a fascination for Adolph Hitler. She shot herself in the head when Germany and Britain declared war. Nancy Mitford and another sister Jessica, in contrast to their parents and two sisters, were socialists.
In 1933, Mitford married Peter Rodd, the youngest son of first Baron Rennell. Prior to her marriage, Mitford had been romantically involved with Hamish St.-Clair-Erskine, a member of the Scottish aristocracy. During World War II, she managed a bookstore in London. She also met Charles de Gaulle’s Chief of Staff Colonel Gaston Palewski. Infatuated with him but also with France, she moved to Paris in 1945. The erratic relationship lasted for a number of years. In 1958, Mitford and her husband, from whom she had been separated for some time, divorced. Palewski, who was fond of Mitford but not deeply in love with her, married Violette de Talleyrand-Périgord in 1969, ending the liaison.
In 1972, Mitford was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. On June 30, 1973, she died at Versailles, France. She is buried in the Swinbrook Churchyard in Oxfordshire, England.
Mitford began her writing career in1931 with Highland Fling. Christmas Pudding appeared in 1932. Both novels depict the English upper class and can be classed as comedies of manners as they satirically treat the problems arising between the older conservative aristocrats and the new generation. Mitford found materials for her novels in the manners of the upper class, especially in the lives and exploits of her relatives and friends. The satirical Wigs on the Green, published in 1935, drew its story line from her sister Diana’s connection with the British Union of Fascists.
Both The Pursuit of Love (1945) and its sequel, Love in a Cold Climate (1949), are anchored in the events of Mitford’s own life and include characters based on family and friends. Her father was the source for the character of Uncle Matthew in The Pursuit of Love. The comic romantic novel was an immediate best seller and has never been out of print. The heroine/hero conflict in Love in a Cold Climate is a fictionalized portrayal of a love affair similar to her affair with Palewski. With the publication of Noblesse Oblige in 1956, Mitford made a major contribution to the creation of the U (upper class) and non-U (all other) classifications of language usage and social manners. She also wrote four highly praised biographies, including Voltaire in Love.