by Diana Cooper
Box See Coalbox.
Brendan Brendan Bracken MP.
Bruce, David and Evangeline See Evangeline.
Burckhardt, Carl See Carl.
Bulbridge Juliet Duff’s house at Wilton.
Carl Carl Burckhardt. Swiss writer and diplomat, later Swiss Minister in Paris. Had a brief affair with my mother before the war.
Caroline, Cary Lady Caroline Paget (later Duff), my mother’s niece, greatly loved by my father.
Cat, the See Kaetchen, below.
Cecil Cecil Beaton, photographer and designer.
Cecil, David Lord David Cecil, Oxford don.
Cecilia Cecilia Hay, a distant cousin.
Charteris, Hugo and Virginia See Hugo.
Chips Henry Channon, MP socialite, snob and superb diarist.
Churchills, the Winston and Clemmie. See also Colonel, the; Duckling. Their youngest daughter, Mary, married Christopher Soames. Their son Randolph married Pamela, who later married Averell Harriman.
Clarke, Rufus See Rufus.
Clemmie Lady Churchill.
Coalbox Lady (Sibyl) Colefax, famous interior decorator.
Colonel, the Winston Churchill (wartime alias).
Conrad Conrad Russell, a bachelor friend of my mother who farmed at Mells, Somerset. He and my mother kept up an almost daily correspondence for perhaps a quarter of a century.
Cranborne, Bobbety and Betty Later Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury.
Cripps, Fred and Violet Friends of my parents.
Curie, Eve Daughter of the discoverers of radium and a dedicated résistante.
Daisy Daisy Fellowes, another old flame of my father’s.
Daphne Married to Lord Weymouth, then to Xan Fielding.
Daphne Wakefield, née Marler. My father’s long-time secretary in the late 1930s, and a friend for ever after.
Dashwood John Dashwood, Eton school friend.
David David Herbert, son of Lord and Lady Pembroke (q.v.), delightful gay friend of my parents, living in Wilton and Tangier.
Ditchley Magnificent seventeenth-century house in Oxfordshire, owned by Ronald Tree MP. Regularly used as weekend retreat by Winston Churchill during the war.
Dodgems My mother’s tiny little wartime car.
Doll, the My mother’s oldest friend, Iris Tree, daughter of the actor Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree.
Dolly Princess Radziwill, married to Mogens Twede.
Dorothy Married to William S. Paley (q.v.). Their house on Long Island was my home in America.
Drian Etienne Drian. Celebrated French artist, principally in charcoal, also a designer.
Duckling Winston Churchill.
Dudley, Eric and Laura See Eric.
Duff, Juliet See Juliet.
Duff, Michael, Sir Juliet’s son.
Duncannon, Eric See Eric.
Emerald Lady Cunard.
Enid Enid Bagnold, novelist, author of National Velvet, married to Sir Roderick Jones.
Eric Earl of Dudley, married Laura (née Charteris).
Eric Duncannon, later Bessborough. My father’s private secretary at the Embassy.
Ernie Ernest Bevin, Foreign Secretary 1945–51.
Esmond Esmond (formerly Harmsworth) Lord Rothermere, proprietor of the Daily Mail.
Euan Euan Wallace MP.
Evangeline Evangeline Bruce, wife of David Bruce, US Ambassador in Paris.
Fara Fara Bartlett, young English guardian of Milo Cripps in Canada.
Farmer, the See Conrad.
Felix Gardener at Chantilly.
Fellowes, Daisy See Daisy.
Février, Jacques Concert pianist and friend.
Forbes, Alistair See Ali.
Frank Frank Giles, Paris representative of The Times. Married to Kitty (q.v.).
Franck, Jacques See Jacques.
Freya Freya Stark, writer and traveller.
Fulco Duke de Verdura, Sicilian jewellery designer, very amusing friend.
Gaston Gaston Palewski, right-hand man of General de Gaulle and lover of Nancy Mitford (Rodd).
Gaulle, Pierre de Brother of General de Gaulle, Mayor of Paris.
George Lord Gage, another old family friend.
Giles, Frank and Kitty See Frank, Kitty.
Godley, Wynne See Wynne.
Guy Guy Benson, husband of my mother’s sister Letty.
Harmsworth, Esmond See Esmond.
Harvey Sir Oliver and Lady. My parents’ successors at the Embassy in Paris.
Henry Marquess of Anglesey, son of my mother’s oldest sister Marjorie.
Herbert, David See David (q.v.).
H.G. H.G. Wells.
Hilary Hilaire Belloc, writer and poet.
Hoffs, the Liz and Raimund von Hofmannsthal (q.v.).
Hoytie Miss Mary Hoyt Wiborg, a long-term American resident in Paris.
Hugo Hugo Charteris, representative of the Continental Daily Mail in Paris.
Hutchie St John Hutchinson, K.C. Married to Mary, q.v. His son Jeremy married the actress Peggy Ashcroft.
Hutchinson, Jeremy See Jeremy.
Iris Iris Tree.
Isaiah Isaiah Berlin, Oxford philosopher.
Jacques Embassy staff.
Jamie Jamie Caffrey, friend of David Herbert.
Jean Czech butler at Chantilly.
Jenny Jenny Nicholson, journalist. One of my mother’s greatest friends. Daughter of Robert Graves, and married to Alexander Clifford, another journalist.
Jeremy Benson Son of Guy Benson and my Aunt Letty.
Jeremy Hutchinson Son of Hutchie (see above). Married to Peggy Ashcroft, actress.
Jeremy Tree Son of Ronnie and Nancy.
Jerry Jerry Koch de Gooreynd, Anglo-Belgian man-about-town, long-term lover of Laura (q.v.).
Jimmy Vincent Sheean, American journalist.
John John de Bendern.
Johnny Lord John Manners, my mother’s nephew.
Jones The gardener-handyman at Bognor.
Jubags See Juliet.
Judy Judy Montagu, daughter of Venetia (q.v.). Later Mrs Milton Gendel.
Juliet Lady Juliet Duff, old friend of my parents.
K See Katherine.
Kaetchen Dr Rudolf Kommer, known as Kaetchen, or the Cat. One of my mother’s oldest friends since her days acting in Max Reinhardt’s famous production of The Miracle. Living at that time in New York, he was my official guardian when I was evacuated to the USA and Canada, 1940–42.
Kakoo (Pronounced Car-koo.) Duchess of Rutland, married to my mother’s late brother John.
Kat See Kaetchen.
Katherine Katherine Asquith, widow of Raymond Asquith, daughter-in-law of the former Prime Minister. A fervent Catholic, and one of my mother’s oldest and dearest friends.
Keswick, Tony Far Eastern expert (Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong) who accompanied my father to Singapore.
Kitty Lady Katherine Giles, married to Frank (q.v.).
Kitty Lady Katherine Farrell (née Paget), daughter of my mother’s sister Marjorie, married to Charles Farrell.
Kommer See Kaetchen, above.
L.L. See Louise.
Laura Sister of Ann Fleming, successively Countess of Dudley and Duchess of Marlborough.
Laurence, Larry Laurence Olivier, actor, married to Vivien Leigh.
Laurian Laurian Jones, daughter of Enid and Roderick, (q.v.).
Lavington The Sussex country house of Euan Wallace MP.
Lawrence, Gertie Musical comedy star.
Leigh Fermor Patrick, Paddy. See Paddy.
Leonardo Walsh, proprietor of the Locanda San Vigilio, Lake Garda.
Letty Lady Violet Benson, my mother’s sister.
Lipmanns, Walter Highly distinguished American journalist.
Liz Lady Elizabeth von Hofmannsthal, married to Raimund (q.v.). My mother’s niece, daughter of her eldest sister Marjorie Anglesey.
Loel Loel Guinness, rich yachtsman, owner of 69 Rue de Lille.
Loelia Duchess of Westminster. One of the four successive wives of Bend
or, 2nd Duke.
Louise Louise de Vilmorin, L.L., Lulu. Mistress of my father and close friend to all our family.
Lulu See Louise.
Major Maurice Baring. See Maurice.
Manners, Johnny See Johnny.
Marguerite My mother’s maid at the Embassy.
Marie-Blanche Marie-Blanche de Polignac, head of Lanvin (haute couture). A fine amateur musician and singer.
Marjorie Marchioness of Anglesey. My mother’s oldest sister.
Marler, Miss My father’s secretary. See Daphne Wakefield (her married name).
Martin Martin Charteris, later Lord Charteris of Amisfield and Provost of Eton. My mother’s nephew, second son of her sister Letty.
Mason A. E. W. Mason, novelist.
Maud Maud Nelson, partner of Oggie (q.v.).
Maugham W. Somerset Maugham, writer.
Maureen Maureen Stanley, wife of Oliver (q.v.).
Maurice, Mumble Major Maurice Baring, writer. A victim of Parkinson’s disease, he was bedridden at his house in Rottingdean, Sussex.
Max See Beaverbrook (q.v.).
Maxine Maxine de la Falaise, one of the most beautiful women in Paris.
Maxwell Elsa Maxwell, American gossip columnist and famous party-giver.
McEntire, Rosemary See Rosemary (q.v.).
Mendl, Elsie Nonogenarian wife of Sir Charles Mendl, formerly Press Attaché of the Embassy.
Millard, Guy (wife Ann) Members of Embassy staff.
Milo Milo Cripps, son of my father’s friend Fred Cripps and nephew of Sir Stafford. He was with me at Upper Canada College.
Mireille Cook at Chantilly. In love with Jean.
Mogens Mogens Twede, a Danish architect and painter living in Paris, married to Dolly Radziwill.
Moura Baroness Budberg. Russian, mistress of Maxim Gorky and later of H.G. Wells. Suspected Soviet spy. Great-great-aunt of Nick Clegg.
Mumble Maurice Baring (q.v.).
Muselier Admiral Emile Muselier, Commander of the Free French Naval Forces.
Nancy Nancy Mitford, novelist – Mrs Peter Rodd.
Nancy Tree, married to Ronnie (q.v.).
Nanny Alice Ayto, who looked after me from a few weeks after my birth, and who took me to America.
Nicholson, Jenny See Jenny.
Nicky Prince Nicholas of Yugoslavia, son of Prince Paul. A close friend until he was killed in a motor crash at twenty-six.
Noémi My mother’s maid in France.
Noona My maternal grandmother, Violet, Duchess of Rutland.
Norah Norah Fahie, secretary-gardener at Chantilly.
Oggie, Olga Olga Lynn, a former singer and singing-teacher, and very old friend.
O’Neill, Ann See Ann, Annie.
Osbert Sir Osbert Sitwell, writer.
Paddy Patrick Leigh Fermor, writer and war hero. A close friend of my mother from 1951 until her death.
Pagets See Angleseys (q.v.)
Paley, Dorothy and
William S. see Bill, Dorothy.
Palewski, Gaston See Gaston (q.v.).
Pam Lady Pamela Berry, later Lady Hartwell.
Pan, Pandora Pandora. Clifford, my sister-in-law, married 1) Timothy Jones, 2) Michael Astor, 3) Philip Lebon.
Pattens, the Bill (q.v.) and Susan Mary (q.v.). He was attached to the US Embassy in Paris.
Paul Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, former Regent, but by this time in exile. Father of Nicky (q.v.).
Peter Peter Quennell, man of letters.
Phyllis Countess de Janzé (née Boyd).
Pickford, Mary Silent film star, married to Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
Pierino Pierino Chitto, young Italian valet-chauffeur.
P.L. Paul-Louis Weiller, multimillionaire, Sugar Daddy.
Polly Polly Cotton, a much-loved lesbian cousin of the Paget family.
Prod Peter Rodd, extremely unsatisfactory husband of Nancy Mitford.
Quennell See Peter.
Rachel Lady David Cecil.
Raimund, Rai Raimund von Hofmannsthal, son of the Austrian poet and librettist (Der Rosenkavalier) Hugo von Hofmannsthal, was married to my mother’s niece Liz (Paget). They were perhaps my parents’ closest friends.
Randolph, Randy Randolph Churchill, son of Winston.
Regnier Gardener at Chantilly.
Rex Rex Whistler, painter.
Rodd, Nancy See Nancy.
Rose Lady Rose McLaren, my mother’s niece. One of the five Anglesey daughters (Caroline, Liz, Rose, Mary, Kitty).
Rosemary Rosemary McEntire, my father’s secretary at the Embassy. After Paris she was posted to Mexico.
Rothermere See Esmond.
Rothschild, Victor and Barbara See Victor, Barbara.
Rufus Rufus Clarke, formerly Assistant Military Attaché at the Embassy. Later lover of Louise de Vilmorin.
Russell, Conrad See Conrad (q.v.).
Russell, Claud and Gilbert Brothers of Conrad (q.v.).
Russell, Martin My father’s secretary/adviser in Singapore.
Sachie Sacheverell Sitwell, writer and critic, married to Georgia.
SHAEF Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force. After the Liberation of Paris based in Versailles.
Sheean, Jimmy American journalist.
Sherwood, Hugh, Lord Family friend. Lover of Daisy Fellowes (q.v.).
Sitwell, Sachie and Georgia See Sachie.
Stanley Edward, Lord Stanley of Alderley.
Stanley Oliver, wartime minister, and Maureen.
Susan Mary Mrs William S. Patten, Attaché at the US Embassy, Paris. Later Mrs Joseph Alsop. Mistress of my father, by whom she was to bear a son.
Teddie Teddie Phillips, Comptroller at the Embassy, later Paris man-about-town.
Tree, Jeremy See Jeremy.
Tree, Ronald, MP. Married to 1) Nancy and then 2) Marietta. Owner of Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, where my parents frequently stayed. During the war it was also used as a weekend retreat by Winston Churchill, whose own house at Chartwell in Kent was considered too vulnerable to German bombing.
Tucker Dominick Jones, son of Enid Bagnold (q.v.), and my best friend at Eton.
Twedes, The See Mogens, Dolly.
Ursula Lady Ursula Manners, daughter of my mother’s brother John, Duke of Rutland.
Vaniers General and Mrs George Vaniers, Canadian Ambassador in Paris.
Venetia Venetia Montagu, my mother’s very old friend.
Victor Lord Rothschild. Married 1) Barbara Hutchinson, 2) Tess Meyer.
Vilmorin, Louise de See Louise.
Virginia Virginia Charteris, married to Hugo.
Virginia Clarke Married to Ashley.
Vivien Vivien Leigh, actress, married to Laurence Olivier.
Wade, Wadey Kate Wade, who had been my mother’s maid ever since her marriage.
Wakefield, Daphne See Daphne.
Wallace, Billy Son of Euan and Barbie.
Wallis The Duchess of Windsor.
Waugh, Evelyn See Wu.
Weiller, Paul-Louis See P.L.
Westminster, Loelia See Loelia.
Weymouth, Daphne See Daphne.
Winston Winston Churchill.
Wormwood Charlie General de Gaulle (‘Wormwood and Gall’)
Wu, Mr Evelyn Waugh.
Wynne Wynne Godley, economist and oboeist. Later married Kitty, daughter of the sculptor Jacob Epstein.
Acknowledgements
All my thanks, as always, go to my wife Mollie, who has put all these letters (and many others) on to the computer and has given me endless help and advice. I am also hugely grateful to Hugo Vickers and Claus von Bulow, whose memories succeeded when mine failed. And all my thanks, too, to Becky Hardie, my editor at Chatto, for her hard work, unfailing enthusiasm and inspired suggestions.
Index
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
Abernon, Lord d’, 214
Achille (chauffeur), 359
Acton, Harold, 276
Adams, Charlie, 440
Admiralty, 98 and n33, 342
African Queen, The, 454
Aga Khan, 282
Aikin, South Carolina, 43 and n24
Aix-en-Provence, 401, 410-19, 437
Ajaccio, 179, 426
Akron, Ohio, 24-5
Alabama, 25
Alba, Jimmy, Duke of, 329, 356, 361, 362, 363, 365, 368
Alban Hills, 322
Albemarle Street, London, 79
Albert see Lord Ashfield
Albert (maître d’hôtel), 390
Albert Hall, 231
Albion Hotel, Brighton, 234
Aldwick, 116
Alexandria, 157
Algiers, 9, 159-79, 183, 189, 329
Ali see Forbes, Alistair
Alibi Bar, Palm Beach, 25
Alice, Princess, 265
Alison, Barley, 241 and n37, 242, 333, 343, 374, 402, 468
Allday, Mr, 239
Alouette, Mr, 338
Alphand, Claude, 445
Alphand, Mr and Mrs Hervé, 376 and n5, 390
Alsace, 196, 335 and n17
Alsop, Joe, 427 and n5
Altrincham, Lady Joan, 317 and n48, 467
Altrincham, Lord Ned, 317 and n48, 467
Alvilde, 279, 310, 316, 334, 376, 382, 406, 445, 467
Aly Khan, 442
Amarillo, Texas, 26
America, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11-28, 30, 31-2, 33, 36, 38, 39, 47, 67, 79, 91, 98, 106, 116, 129, 133-4, 158, 318-19, 332 and n8, 344
Amsterdam, 287
Andalusia, 362
Andaman Islands, 151, 152-5
Anderson, Lady Ava, 376, 377, 468
Anderson, Sir John, 377
André (employed at Chantilly), 268, 274, 276
André (huissier), 199 and n30, 207, 467
And So To Bed, 53
Angelo (employed at Chantilly), 281
Anglesey, Charles (Charlie) Paget, Marquess of, 207, 405, 467
Anglesey, Henry Paget, Marquess of, 311 and n38, 314 and n44, 467, 472
Anglesey, Marjorie Paget (née Manners), Marchioness of, 338, 405, 467, 475
Ankara, 374
Ann (Annie) see O’Neill, Ann (later Lady Rothermere, then Ann Fleming)
Anna Karenina, 244-5, 250, 449
Annesley, Mrs George, 444
Annie Get Your Gun, 264
Antibes, 425
Aosta, Duc d’, 375
Apennines, 448
Appian Way, 322
Aragon, Louis, 201
Arc de Triomphe, 187, 192
Ardrey, Robert: Thunder Rock, 52 and n42