The Six

The Lives of the Mitford Sisters

By: Laura Thompson

Narrated by: Maggie Mash

The eldest was a razor-sharp novelist of upper-class manners; the second was loved by John Betjeman; the third was a fascist who married Oswald Mosley; the fourth idolized Hitler and shot herself in the head when Britain declared war on Germany; the fifth was a member of the American Communist Party; the sixth became Duchess of Devonshire.

They were the Mitford sisters: Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah. Born into country-house privilege in the early years of the 20th century, they became prominent as "bright young things" in the high society of interwar London. Then, as the shadows crept over 1930s Europe, the stark - and very public - differences in their outlooks came to symbolize the political polarities of a dangerous decade.

The intertwined stories of their stylish and scandalous lives - recounted in masterly fashion by Laura Thompson - hold up a revelatory mirror to upper-class English life before and after WWII.

The Six was previously published as Take Six Girls.

©2015 Laura Thompson (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

All the Mitford At Once. Consider The Book

The Mittfords as a unit were a worthy topic for a biography.. and this one is well written. The book moves through time and place so all sisters appear and disappear as they're lives are lived.
My only performance complaint was small: the over-top slow over enunciated ACCENT for all quotes was annoying to me at times.
Not being very familiar with this family, I struggled to keep them straight in my head while listening.
Their hilarious multitude of nicknames and supporting cast of wealthy friends, suitors, lovers, and husband's was a bit of a mush at times.
It would be better to read not listen.

Detailed

Too much detail for me. Written for British audience. Fascinating story, but I got lost in the minutia.

The Six

Splendid....I loved this book....being of English heritage, I just dove in...I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have...

Sisters

I had four sisters and enjoyed reading that there were other poor parents out there who struggled with their daughters. We weren't the only crazy ones.

what a family

you don't know whether to like them or not but you always find them interesting. initially the "story" was hard to follow but once you got the names straight it was smooth sailing.

Interesting but left me really disliking this family

I feel like this author kept trying to excuse so much disturbing behavior of these sisters. Especially the 2 that admired Hitler, simply because they were witty and thick skinned. They were definitely interesting women but were also a perfect example of the rich and privileged in England that looked down there noses at most people.

Fascinating story well told

The reader was top notch and could do all the various accents that made this story come alive. It’s a meticulously researched book using lots of primary source material, esp. correspondences. Enthralling.

Astonishing Narrator

I've always been interested in the Mitford story and quite enjoyed this book. The narrator, Maggie Mash, is absolutely fantastic and really made this book listenable. She is wonderful at conveying the distinct language and infle

The True Story

The Mitford family has (in recent decades) fascinated those inclined to the mix of controversy, whimsy and Old English Aristocracy. But it's never been easy to know them in truth. They've had a way of writing and speaking what they want the public to think. This well researched book cuts through it all, and we enjoy and marvel at all the complexities of six very difference competing girls through to womanhood. A very interesting family, fun and furious at the same time.

Brilliant

Very well written. I enjoyed listening to “The Six”. Ms. Thompson brings a fresh and detailed view of the lives and impact of each member of the Mitford’s.