Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford

Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford

FINALIST FOR THE PEN/JACQUELINE BOGARD WELD AWARD FOR BIOGRAPHY AND LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE BIOGRAPHY AWARD A NEW YORK TIMES EDITOR'S CHOICE · A TOWN & COUNTRY "BEST BOOK" · A BLOOMBERG “BEST” BOOK Troublemaker tells the wild and unlikely story of Jessica Mitford, fifth of the six famous Mitford Girls, a British aristocrat-turned-American Communist, famous for exposés like The American Way of Death ; this biography brings her astonishing self-transformation to life with a riveting, often hilarious account of trading wealth and status for a life of radical activism. Who could predict that a British aristocrat would so energize American antifascist and civil rights struggles that Time magazine would crown her “Queen of the Muckrakers”? Jessica Mitford, always known as Decca, was brought up by an eccentric English family to marry well and reproduce her wealth and privilege, not to advocate for the rights of others. Her beautiful sisters have been subjects of books and movies dedicated to their naughty, glamorous lives. Decca ran away to America to forge a rebel’s life. As this richly researched book details, Decca broke the Mitford mold. Instead of settling for life as a professional Beauty, she fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War, became an American Communist and pioneered witty, hugely popular journalism, including her 1963 blockbuster The American Way of Death . Decca dedicated her life to social justice and proved herself an immensely effective ally, but she also injected laughter into all her political work, annoying some activists with her relentless antics but encouraging many others to find joy in the struggle. From famed baby doctor Benjamin Spock to best friend Maya Angelou, her anti-authoritarian irreverence had a profound impact on American culture. Mining extensive, untapped sources, and with nearly fifty new interviews, Kaplan’s passionate biography beautifully illuminates how Decca’s hard-won and self-taught social empathy offers a powerful example of female freedom, the dramatic, novelistic story of an extraordinary woman of her time who is remarkably relevant and resonant today. “Doggedly researched and resolutely modern . . . . A template for would-be allies in social justice movements that have intensified since . . . Troublemaker is a repository of astounding resourcefulness; a detailed curriculum vitae; a crack against the soft rump of the modern screen-addled slacker." ⎯ The New York Times “The most significant contribution [to recent Mitford projects] is Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford . . . . Kaplan is devoted to Decca alone, and to separating her crusading accomplishments from the sins of the flock . . . . It is, as Kaplan notes, an apt time for such a book to emerge.” ⎯ The New Yorker "Jessica, Kaplan noted, has drawn comparatively little interest from biographers. . . But she believes that her subject’s life trajectory—which included fighting fascists in Spain and joining the Freedom Riders in Alabama—might especially resonate today. [As Kaplan says] 'A lot of people who have looked at the level of injustice in this country have been asking themselves, ‘What can I do?’ The way my students put that is, ‘How can I be a good ally’?”’ — The Washington Post “As Kaplan shows, Decca found her legacy in the light: in her ebullient personality, her fight for social justice, the delight she took in her triumphs, and her deep connection with other people.”⎯ Air Mail “Can there really be any point in yet another fat book about one of the Mitford sisters? . . . Carla Kaplan’s exhaustively researched and thorough account of Jessica . . . comes as a welcome relief . . . . To the end of her life, Decca had the daunting blue gaze, pure upper-class accent and ruthless, exploitative charm of a true Mitford. Kaplan’s account is solid, even-handed and, in the end, impressive. It confirms the fact that Decca was surely the only one of all the Mitfords worth taking seriously.” ⎯ Anne Chisholm, The Spectator "The most well-researched biography of Jessica Mitford to date . . . refreshing . . . pays Decca the real compliment of treating her as a public intellectual." — The Times "[A] well-researched and unashamedly partisan account . . . . This splendidly readable biography does justice to a remarkable woman’s humour, political commitment and courage." — Financial Times "Gripping." ⎯ Los Angeles Times "A perceptive, sympathetic biography of activist, unabashed communist, and muckraker Jessica Mitford . . . . Kaplan captures Decca’s energy and verve, her complicated relationship with her aristocratic family, and her unwavering devotion to fighting injustice, racism, and inequality. A brisk, engaging biography." ⎯ Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Here biographer Carla Kaplan dives deep into [Decca's] life and offers a long overdue tome dedicated to putting Decca front and center." - Town & Country "An absolutely delicious