Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford

Longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for BiographyFrom British country homes to Republican Spain and civil rights America, the inspiring, wildly entertaining story of Jessica Mitford--investigative journalist, radical activist, renegade aristocrat.

''A long overdue tome dedicated to putting Decca front and centre.''

''[An] exhaustively researched and thorough account ... solid, even-handed ... impressive.''

''Jessica Mitford is a sister of mine. If I had to go into a room with a leopard, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask for her.''

''The cult of the Mitfords, which now features a shelf of books and several TV documentaries, threatens in itself to become a bore on an almost Bloomsbury scale. But [their] mad father, when making dispositions of his property, wrote in his will the words "except Jessica." And the bookstore at the Devonshire stately home in Chatsworth displays works by and about every Mitford sister but her. These paltry aristocratic gestures confirm, as do [her] letters, that it was Decca, exiled and intransigent, who was the exceptional one.''

''Too much writing about the Mitfords has been trivia. But Carla Kaplan''s impressive study of Jessica Mitford''s troublemaking life and political activities on the American left proves once and for all that she was the only Mitford sister worth taking seriously.''

''Jessica Mitford was the best, brightest and most dynamic of the Mitford sisters. Her commitment to social justice and civil rights meant she had more impact than all the rest.''

''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.''

''Brilliantly researched. Every paragraph is a fit to the struggle for civil rights decency. Illuminating. Joyful!''

''The most well-researched biography of Jessica Mitford to date ... refreshing ... pays Decca the real compliment of treating her as a public intellectual.''

''[A] well-researched and unashamedly partisan account ... This splendidly readable biography does justice to a remarkable woman''s humour, political commitment and courage.''

''Troublemaker refuses to reduce this most beautifully messy and complicated of Mitfords to bon mots ... a repository of astounding resourcefulness.''

''Kaplan is devoted to ... separating [Decca''s] crusading accomplishments from the sins of the flock.''

''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''?"''

‘Beautifully written, utterly transporting and relentlessly vivid by the recovery of amazing circumstances and astonishing human relationships, Carla Kaplan’s remarkable biography of Jessica Mitford is a journey through the many social and political worlds contained in a single family, from British feudal aristocracy and pro-Hitler fascist enthusiasm to the American Civil Rights Movement and card-carrying American Communism. This captivating story—empathetic and yet clear-eyed—of a fascinating woman, her sisters and their lives in the twentieth century is a breathtaking and singular achievement.’

''Marvelous, enchanting and hilarious. Carla Kaplan has triumphed, bringing to life the delightful odyssey of Jessica Mitford, the mischievous British aristocrat turned American radical and celebrated muckraker. An inspiring biography by a master biographer.''

''Here''s a book as infectious, stylish and hard-hitting as its subject--the glamorous and rebellious Jessica Mitford. Carla Kaplan writes with the flair of a novelist and backs it up with relentless research and keen insight. Troublemaker is one of those rare books produced from the marriage of a fascinating, timely story and a wonderful storyteller. An absolute treasure.''

''Carla Kaplan''s deeply researched account chronicles Jessica Mitford''s fascinating transformation from a British aristocrat to an American Communist, journalist, writer and educator. She unveils a unique angle of "good trouble" and civil rights allyship, told with the drama and humour of Mitford''s unique personality.''

''A remarkable book about a remarkable woman. If you don’t know a lot about Decca (and her exceptionally weird family), you’re in for a treat. If you think you already know a lot about her, think again: you’re in for a bracing helping of shock and awe. Because Kaplan’s research is so impressively deep, and her prose so pleasingly fleet, her complicated and compelling subject now has the biography she has long deserved.''

From British high society to republican Spain and civil rights America, the inspiring, wildly entertaining story of Jessica Mitford--investigative journalist, radical activist, renegade aristocrat.

Jessica ''Decca'' Mitford was raised to marry well, not fight for others'' rights. Yet she rejected her eccentric, blue-blooded roots, running away from England to become an antifascist and antiracist. Why is this rebellious heroine less famous than her glamorous sisters, who ranged from naughty to Nazi?

Troublemaker is the remarkable story of Decca''s life in pursuit of justice, in the Spanish Civil War and the Communist Party USA; her intrepid social reporting, and her relentless antics. Carla Kaplan celebrates a fierce intellect and powerful ally who brought joy to the struggle, unearthing fascinating details through interviews with the Mitford family, and exploring Decca''s thousands of witty letters. From pioneer Dr Spock to Decca''s best friend Maya Angelou, this Mitford sister''s irreverent anti-authoritarianism deeply influenced American culture. Back home in Britain, her activism shamed those of her class--and her family--on the wrong side of history.

This passionate, often hilarious biography captures an extraordinary woman, and an extraordinary time in world history. Facing today''s injustices, we need Decca''s vibrant, committed example more than ever.

• | Author: Carla Kaplan
• | Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
• | Publication Date: Dec 04, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781805265375
• | ISBN-10: 1805265377