The podcast explores the glamorous yet troubling lives of the Mitford sisters, particularly Unity's alarming relationship with Adolf Hitler. Unity's fascination with Nazism and her eerie presence in Hitler's inner circle paint a chilling picture of class dynamics and radical ideologies. Her paradoxical life is highlighted, revealing the dark allure of her ambitions and her family's complex entanglements with British fascism. The discussion dives into the broader societal implications of their choices during a tumultuous political era, questioning the legacies they left behind.
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Unity's Infatuation
Rudolf Hess describes Unity Mitford's infatuation with Hitler at the Osteria Bavaria.
He observed her admiration and Hitler's excitement at the prospect of a relationship.
insights INSIGHT
Notorious Nazi
Unity Mitford stands out among British fascists due to her direct access to Hitler.
Her notoriety stems from the enduring public fascination with the Mitford family.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Family History
Unity Mitford's family history reveals a predisposition towards Nazism, including her grandfather's friendship with Wagner and Chamberlain.
Her upbringing included exposure to anti-Semitic views and a fascination with German culture.
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Laura Thompson's 'Take Six Girls: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters' delves into the lives of Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah Mitford, providing a detailed account of their experiences and the political polarities they represented during the interwar period. The book navigates their unconventional childhood, their debut into society, and the extraordinary events that shaped their lives, offering a nuanced view of their individual paths and collective impact on British society.
Unity Mitford: The Frivolity of Evil
Unity Mitford: The Frivolity of Evil
David Price Jones
The Remains of the Day
Kazuo Ishiguro
The Remains of the Day is a novel told through the first-person narration of Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall. In the summer of 1956, Stevens embarks on a six-day motoring trip through the West Country, which becomes a journey into his past. The novel explores Stevens' memories of his service during and after World War II, his relationship with the former housekeeper Miss Kenton, and the decline of the English aristocracy. It delves into themes of regret, repression, and the consequences of dedicating one's life to professional duty at the expense of personal happiness. The story is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the reliability of memory, and the human cost of maintaining a rigid professional persona[1][3][5].
The Savage Storm
The Battle for Italy 1943
James Holland
James Holland's 'The Savage Storm' provides an unflinching and insightful look at the opening months of the Italian Campaign. The book weaves together letters, diaries, and other documents to recount the battles from the perspectives of Allied, Axis, and civilian participants. It reappraises the reputations of senior commanders and highlights the challenges faced by Allied troops due to limited resources allocated to Italy.
The Mitfords were the most glamorous aristocrats on the London scene in the 1920s, with at their head Diana, the most beautiful woman in London, who would eventually marry Oswald Mosley. However, her younger sister Unity would strike up a relationship with her own fascist leader: Adolf Hitler. Having first moved to Berlin in 1934, Unity would eventually become part of the Führer’s inner-circle: having described them both as “perfect example of aryan womanhood”, her and Diana were his guests at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, sat next to Eva Braun. Unity would introduce her parents to Hitler, and he even visited her when she was in hospital during the opening weeks of WWII. Join Tom and Dominic in the final episode of our series on British fascism, as they delve into the life of Unity Mitford, her family, and her relationship with Hitler. Was she trying to seduce Hitler and form an Anglo-German dynasty? Did the violence of the SS not unsettle her? And was she carrying Hitler’s child upon her return to Britain? Listen to find out…
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