Mitford sisters

The six daughters of British aristocrat 2nd Lord Redesdale, including: Nancy (1904–1973), author of the semi-autobiographical The Pursuit of Love (1945) and Love in a Cold Climate (1949), and editor and part author of the satirical essays collected in Noblesse Oblige (1956) elucidating ‘U’ (upper-class) and ‘non-U’ behaviour; Diana (1910–2003), who married British fascist Oswald Mosley; Unity (1914–1948), who became an admirer of Hitler; and Jessica (1917– ), author of the autobiographical Hons and Rebels (1960) and The American Way of Death (1963).

Nancy lived in France from 1945. Her other works include The Blessing (1951) and Don't Tell Alfred (1960); she also wrote the biographical studies Madame de Pompadour (1954), Voltaire in Love (1957), and The Sun King (1966).