The Mitford Affair

In The Mitford Affair, questions of the boundaries between the political and the personal are a central theme that helps to drive the momentum of the narrative, and to shape the novel’s treatment of conflict, turmoil, and moral responsibility.

Nancy is the character who best represents a balanced view of personal and political life. She has political opinions, but her moderation sometimes means her commitment is overshadowed by the fanaticism of her sisters. Through her novels, Nancy criticizes her family and social group, especially examining the role of politics within society, making personal material a means to express public political views. Much of the book’s moral and emotional momentum is maintained by Nancy questioning her motives and acknowledging that her personal feelings affect her political and moral decision-making. That Nancy is asking these questions about fact versus fiction highlights that she is able to rationally balance her political and personal duties, and makes her a model in the book for this theme.

Politics also becomes personal for Nancy because of the internal dynamics between her and her family, especially when she takes a stand against her political sisters. The novel’s emotional crisis point is when Nancy is forced to decide between politics and her personal feelings.