Home to Roost: And Other Peckings [Hardcover]

This would not be my first choice for those new to the writings of the divine Deborah Vivien Freeman-Mitford Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.

I first encountered the youngest of the famous Mitford sisters a few years ago in a feature article in one of the London papers. Her wicked humor and huge crush on Elvis left me wanting more and next thing I knew I was in Hatchard's buying the delightful "Counting My Chickens," which made the long flight home fly by. I've subsequently read three of her books on Chatsworth and delved further into the lives of the Mitford clan via Mary Lovell's book, "The Sisters," Decca's letters and the Masterpiece Theatre version of Nancy's "Love in a Cold Climate," and enjoyed them all.

But...this one. It's something of a hodgepodge: A few book reviews and a speech given to a local women's group--all of which might have benefited by some sort of introductory context, at least in its US edition....random thoughts and little essays on this and that--tiaras, book signings, memorial services, the weird language of British motorways, the death of the local post office and assorted unexplained Brit-specific topics, like OFTOF, that most Yanks will find mystifying. But there are also recollections of her visit to Washington for the Treasure Houses of Britain exhibition and, probably most interesting to her American readers, her Kennedy memories. (She got to know them when they lived around the corner in London when they all were young and Joe Sr. was ambassador. JFK's sister "Kick" married the duke's brother Billy but both were soon dead--he in WWII, she in a plane crash--and the Kennedys always thereafter considered the Devonshires "family.") Here she shares the notes she made during her visits to America for both JFK's inaguration and his funeral.

My general impression is that, with the dowager duchess now entering her 10th decade, the niece who is her editor is madly collecting and compiling her aunt's every written word that hasn't already made it into a book and putting it between covers somewhat willy-nilly. My recommendation to others: Start with "Counting My Chickens" and if you dearly love that one, as I do, then you might also want to read this. Both books are purse-sized and told in short takes, thus good for having on hand when you find yourself with a bit of time to kill. Meantime, coming soon and likely to be more substantive and worth waiting for, is her "Wait for Me: Memoirs," due out in November 2010.

Addenda 11/12/10: The Kennedy inauguration and funeral notes mentioned above are also included as an appendix in "Wait for Me!" which I just finished reading and reviewing and highly recommend.

A selection of the writings, most quite short articles, by a witty, now older, member of England's landed aristocracy.

Like all such collections, some selections are stronger than others. However, I think most readers will enjoy the practical thoughts and gentle humor of one who has seen much over the course of a long and privileged country life. From the evidence of this book, Deborah Devonshire would be a fun lady to be around.

Americans will especially appreciate the author's first-hand recollections of important times related to the family of John F. Kennedy, going back to World War II and the ill-fated "Kick" Kennedy.

Home to Roost: And Other Peckings is Deborah Freeman-Mitford Cavendish, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire's writings regarding her life, the world around her and her unmatched seat for viewing the changes in the 20th century. What makes her writing so readable and encouraged the occasional laugh out loud is her plain spoken way of looking at life. She does not put on airs she observes with a clear eye. Stories of the pitfalls of getting older, times spent with family past and present, her 1938 social season, the many important people she has known and observed, the observations of the ways life has evolved and changed are well served by her keen eye and gentle humor. These occasional writings have been gathered into this book, illustrated by her son-n-law Will Topley. Once again this is a delight to read, a glimpse into a life well lived.

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