Jessica Mitford was “the one who got away” in her famous family.
While most the upper-crust Mitfords were drawn to fascism and admired Hitler Jessica made her home on the left of the political spectrum.
So did her cousin Esmond Romilly, the nephew of Winston Churchill and a veteran of the Spanish Civil War.
In 1937, when she was 19 and he was 18, Jessica and Esmond met.
With their shared ideals, they fell madly in love -- and ran away together.
Their families, and even the government, tried to stop them.
But their love overcame all obstacles.
And yet tragedy was lurking around the corner - and with the outbreak of war Jessica would lose Esmond forever.
'Jessica Mitford: Churchill's Rebel' is the fascinating story of a women who grew up in a world of privilege - but who was not afraid to strike out on her own.
She was a rebel - against her class and her family.
Meredith Whitford's ground-breaking book uses previously unpublished documents and family sources to investigate a part of her life that has received little attention from the Mitford Industry.
It is essential reading for anyone interested in the Mitford family -- and the years leading up to and after the Second World War.
And it is a window on an remarkable era - and a remarkable women.
'At last we get to read the "behind the scenes" story of Decca and Esmond's scandalous elopement during the turbulent 30s.' Lyndsy Spence author of The Mitford Girls Guide to Life.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
While most the upper-crust Mitfords were drawn to fascism and admired Hitler Jessica made her home on the left of the political spectrum.
So did her cousin Esmond Romilly, the nephew of Winston Churchill and a veteran of the Spanish Civil War.
In 1937, when she was 19 and he was 18, Jessica and Esmond met.
With their shared ideals, they fell madly in love -- and ran away together.
Their families, and even the government, tried to stop them.
But their love overcame all obstacles.
And yet tragedy was lurking around the corner - and with the outbreak of war Jessica would lose Esmond forever.
'Jessica Mitford: Churchill's Rebel' is the fascinating story of a women who grew up in a world of privilege - but who was not afraid to strike out on her own.
She was a rebel - against her class and her family.
Meredith Whitford's ground-breaking book uses previously unpublished documents and family sources to investigate a part of her life that has received little attention from the Mitford Industry.
It is essential reading for anyone interested in the Mitford family -- and the years leading up to and after the Second World War.
And it is a window on an remarkable era - and a remarkable women.
'At last we get to read the "behind the scenes" story of Decca and Esmond's scandalous elopement during the turbulent 30s.' Lyndsy Spence author of The Mitford Girls Guide to Life.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
