Based on texts from the period (many letters), the book is a chronicle of life at the court of Naples between 1730 and 1820, including artistic life, archeological discoveries, war with the French, Austrian occupation...Very entertaining and well written.

For anyone with a interest in the Mitford family, this a nicely written book by her personal friend. It's like having a conversation with the author about this funny and clever lady.The only to watch out for is if you don't speak french ( as I don't) then you may miss some of the best jokes.

I have been looking for a biography of Nancy Mitford for so long, and here it is finally, and by a friend of hers as well. It made me laugh as much as her novels. Rather than put himself on the foreground, Acton lets Nancy Mitford do the speaking and so it really is as if this is her talking about her own life, a sort of autobiography. I watched the documentary earlier this year and I must say quite a different person emerges from this book. She was quite a self-made person, despite her background, and no doubt therefore so resilient in her disastrous love affairs. Highly recommended.

I have been looking for a biography of Nancy Mitford for so long, and here it is finally, and by a friend of hers as well. It made me laugh as much as her novels. Rather than put himself on the foreground, Acton lets Nancy Mitford do the speaking and so it really is as if this is her talking about her own life, a sort of autobiography. I watched the documentary earlier this year and I must say quite a different person emerges from this book. She was quite a self-made person, despite her background, and no doubt therefore so resilient in her disastrous love affairs. Highly recommended.