Jessica Mitford — The American Way of Death with Mimi Pond

Send us Fan MailIn this follow-up to our 2021 episode on Nancy Mitford, we’re turning the spotlight on her younger sister, Jessica (a.k.a. “Decca”) Mitford, an activist and journalist whom Time magazine called “the queen of the muckrakers.” Her influential 1963 nonfiction title The American Way of Death exposed corruption in the funeral industry and was lauded by David Bowie as one of his “Top 100” favorite books, whereas her 1960 childhood memoir, Hons and Rebels, left her own family seeing red! Joining us in conversation is Mimi Pond, whose recently-published graphic biography Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me adds new color (literally) to the Mitford mythology with wry commentary and artwork perfectly suited to England’s most outrageous debutantes.Mentioned in this episode:Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi PondHons and Rebels by Jessica MitfordThe American Way of Death by Jessica MitfordDavid Bowie’s Top 100 Favorite BooksThe Pursuit of Love by Nancy MitfordLife in A Cold Climate by Laura ThompsonDecca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford edited by Peter Y. SussmanLifeitselfmanship: Or, How to Become a Precisely Because Man by Jessica MitfordLost Ladies of Lit Episode No 39 on Nancy MitfordLost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 65 on Lucia BerlinLost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 187 on Kay BoyleNancy Mitford: A Portrait by Her Sisters documentary Asthall ManorChatsworth HouseDecca and the Dectones’ rendition of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”“Desert Island Discs” interview with Diana MosleyMimi Pond’s Mitford sisters merchandiseOver Easy by Mimi PondThe Customer is Always Wrong by Mimi PondSupport the showFor episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.comSubscribe to our substack newsletter.Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast