The real Mitford Sisters - Decca 1

Jessica Mitford—The Red Sheep with the Running Away Fund 🚩🐑💰💨

We are officially DONE with the fascists! After spending weeks in the dark company of Unity and Diana, it’s time to flip the political script. Enter Jessica "Decca" Mitford, the "red sheep" of the family, who traded her silver spoon for a hammer and sickle.

In this first episode about her, we explore Decca’s childhood within the Mitford Nursery. Why did she feel that her upbringing was so suffocating? We dive into her legendary memoir "Hons and Rebels", uncovering the bizarre nicknames and the secret language of the Mitford girls.

We also examine the fascinating psychological parallels between the sisters: how did one house produce two fascists and one radical communist? From her early "armchair socialism" to her genius running away fund—a childhood savings account designed specifically to escape the aristocracy—Decca was playing a long game. Finally, we meet the catalyst for her rebellion: the "bad boy" cousin and notorious anti-establishment figure, Esmond Romilly.

Get ready for a story of teenage defiance, political radicalisation, and the most scandalous elopement in 1930s Britain. The revolution starts in the nursery!

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro & Recap (we’re DONE with the fascists!)

0:02:35 Decca’s nicknames & “Hons and Rebels”

0:08:45 Decca’s ‘suffocating” childhood

0:14:10 Decca’s early childhood and career ideas

0:20:48 Decca’s role models & armchair socialism

0:26:55 Diana, Unity, and Decca: parallels and differences

0:32:51 Decca’s Running Away Fund

0:38:37 Enter Esmond!

0:43:45 Wrap & Outlook (an elopement heading your way!)

For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Jessica Mitford's life, we recommend the following books:

• “Hons and Rebels” by Jessica Mitford (her first memoir)
• “A Fine Old Conflict” by Jessica Mitford (her second memoir)
• "Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford" by Carla Kaplan

You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod

And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com

For Londoners and people who care about Women’s Health:

Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health? Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation?

Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk

Tags: #JessicaMitford #TheMitfords #BritishAristocracy #Communism #1930sHistory #RebelGirls #WinstonChurchill #TrueHistory #WomensHistory #TrueStories

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.