It is a truth universally acknowledged that Mitford sisters are controversial. I get that. I guess it’s pretty difficult not to be, if you happen to be a noble family of six sisters, of whom one is a Nazi (Unity), one a Communist (Jessica), one a Gaullist (Nancy), one a fascist (Diana), one a duchess (Deborah) and one an animal-lover admired by John Betjeman (Pamela). Throw in some literary achievements, legendary wit and beautiful clothes and ta-dah! As I happen to be passionate about politics, books and style, my fascination with the Mitford sisters isn’t entirely surprising.

If you share these interests, I highly recommend reading Nancy’s novels. A bit like Jane Austen, she is always witty and effortless in her writing, but never only that. Her observations are so sharp that she often cuts herself and that elevates her semi-autobiographic books (The Pursuit of Love being the most famous) well above the average. I think she had extraordinary political instincts, too. With the rise of right wing parties in Europe her Wigs on the Green should be much more widely read than it is.

In addition to being an accomplished, entertaining writer, Nancy had great taste and a serious interest in fashion. Her attitude is perfectly summed up by her answer to sister Diana’s question whether she’d rather be dowdy or ridiculous. „Oh, ridiculous, of course.“ Now that’s my kind of girl.

I discovered the Mitfords quite late, after reading Letters Between Six Sisters, so they never had a formative effect on me. But I really couldn’t pick anyone else for my first Inspiration post, as I have unashamedly stolen the name of my blog from Nancy’s second serious book, Love in a Cold Climate. I’m sure she’d be appalled.