This is the story of a close loving family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the world wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy was one of the best-selling novelists of her day; beautiful Diana married the Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley; and Unity a close friend of Hitler shot herself in the head when England and Germany declared war. The Mitfords had style and presence and were remarkably gifted. Above all they were funny--hilariously and mercilessly so. In this wise evenhanded and generous book Mary Lovell captures the vitality and drama of a family that took the twentieth century by storm and became in some respects its victims.