BookBrowse Reviews The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

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A portrait of Great Britain's political landscape in the 1930s as seen through the eyes of the influential Mitford sisters

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Marie Benedict's The Mitford Affair follows the activities of three daughters of England's aristocratic Mitford family: Nancy (1904–1973), Diana (1910–2003) and Unity (1914–1948). Set in England in the 1930s, the novel's plot highlights the impact the trio had on British politics during the lead-up to World War II. Diana, a well-known beauty, divorces her husband Bryan Guinness (heir to the brewery fortune) to become the lover of Sir Oswald Mosley, a charismatic politician and founder of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) (see Beyond the Book). Nancy and Unity join Diana at BUF meetings, and although Nancy quickly rejects fascism, Unity, an odd, socially awkward girl, not only embraces it but finds among its members an acceptance she's never before enjoyed. She finagles a trip to Germany, where she captures the attention of Adolf Hitler, eventually becoming a member of his inner circle. Nancy watches from the sidelines, focusing on her burgeoning writing career but growing increasingly concerned about her sisters' political associations. Diana, meanwhile, eager to promote Mosley's cause, uses Unity's connections to try to win Germany's support for British fascism, with dire consequences for the entire Mitford clan.

Novels about England's political atmosphere just prior to WWII seem less common than books set during the actual conflict, yet they may be more relevant than ever as authoritarianism gains traction in some nations. Benedict demonstrates the time period's complexity remarkably well. We tend to think of Allied countries as uniformly anti-fascist, but the author really brings home the fact that the political landscape was nowhere near that simple. In clear prose that rotates among the three sisters' points of view, she brings this multi-faceted era to life. It's a fascinating slice of history.

Benedict's works tend to focus on women who were highly influential yet whose contributions have been largely forgotten over time — unsung heroines like Rosalind Franklin, the discover of DNA featured in Her Hidden Genius, or Clementine Churchill, whose influence on world events is outlined in Lady Clementine. Although The Mitford Affair follows this general formula by highlighting important yet little-known women, what sets it apart is that its central characters aren't admirable; they are, in fact, traitorous. The author takes a risk here, as some readers may find it challenging to enjoy a book with unlikeable main characters, but Benedict imbues Diana and Unity with enough humanity that most will be able to develop some understanding of their actions, if not empathy for the situations in which they find themselves.

The book moves along at a reasonable clip but does slow a bit in the middle sections. Perhaps its biggest drawback, though, is that its scope is so confined. Benedict largely limits the narrative to the perspectives of the three sisters, and as a result the novel feels like it's missing some potential context. The three young women — in particular their relationships with each other — are the book's primary focus, with the history surrounding them of secondary importance. Consequently the novel is less informative than some of Benedict's other historical fiction. It's a good introduction to the subject, but those well-versed in 1930s British history may find Benedict's treatment here not entirely satisfactory.

That said, The Mitford Affair opens an interesting window into the time period and into the lives of three noteworthy women of the day. Benedict vividly portrays the socialites and sheds much-needed light on their influence. I recommend the book to those interested in pre-war England or in the provocative Mitford sisters. Book groups that enjoy discussing historical fiction will want to take a look at this one.

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in February 2023, and has been updated for the September 2023 edition. Click here to go to this issue.