Fizz and Sparkle: The Effervescent Life of Deborah, The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- November 10, 2010
The youngest of the legendary Mitford sisters reminisces about her life and her correspondence with the charismatic Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor, considered to be the finest English travel writer of his generation. An evening filled with wit, eccentric characters, and a celebration of courage and friendship. Charlotte Mosley, her niece and editor, joins the Dowager Duchess in conversation.
The Artists, Poets, and Writers Lecture Series is made possible through the generous support of the Drue Heinz Trust.
What an extraordinary person. Surely one of the most beautiful woman in the world. How lucky were the people who knew you. I feel life is so sad. One minute I too was young and enjoying life. Now I am old, my husband died 9 months ago after 58 years together. I am unable to walk but am blessed to live in the country. It must be wonderful to come from a large family. I watched a video on utube about how the Duchess started decorating an old vicarage and started a new garden in her 80s. She was very special. ❤️
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams...........
I live 5 miles from chatsworth and often visit debos and Andrews resting places in the Edensor churchyard. Lovely lady.
I had great fun thanks to this lovely lovely woman
This interview is a gem. The last living Mitford sister. Such a graceful lady.
What a pleasure to listen to this grand lady!
Fascinating. I love her. Thanks so much for the upload! I learned so much. And her writing style is magnificent.
Her hearing at 90 is much better than mine at 64. She picked up the questions from the audience which I couldn’t hear at all.
That wonderful Mitford drawl - how we’ll miss it!
Absolutely, fantastic, and interesting woman Debo! I did get to me the Dowager Duchess at Chatsworth about 10 years ago. I was 15 and she was such a wonderful conversationalist. We talked about the grounds of Chatsworth, about the artworks, and about her enormous Devonshire tiara. All in all about an hour was spent just talking. She was so obliging and was very quick to put me at ease. I liked her very much.
What a precious, treasured memory that must be for you!
LaDivinaLover Must’ve been exhilarating and fabulous!
A wonderful interview, and very worthwhile listening to for anyone who is a fan of the Mitford family, the books that some of them wrote, and the history of that period in general.
I was pleased to find out that the woman interviewing the Duchess is Charlotte Marten Mosley who is the wife of the Duchess’ nephew Alexander Mosley. His mother was Diana Mitford, the Duchess’ sister. Charlotte edited the Mitford sisters’ letters that she is referencing at times.
Chatsworth was wonderful the first time I visited ten years ago ...and justly so last Christmas all decorated up for the season. A wonderful place to visit wit so many beautiful artefacts.
Regardless of Politics. How many people of the 20th Century can profess to have had tea with amongst others Winston Churchill, Jack and Bobby Kennedy. The Queen. George Vl, Queen Mother, Earl Mountbatten, Charles De Gaulle and ... Adolf Hitler However, not necessarily at the same time!
This women is my great aunt. I currently live in nyc. I was left a great inheritance from her. Considering I met the women no more the 10 times my whole life.
The Duchess appears at about the 6 minute mark, for those who might want to spare themselves the introductory chatter
Thanks for that, great tip x
THANK YOU! All introductory spiels are so aggravating!
She's so humourous
Another camera angle would have been nice. Would have been nice to have seen her face.
'Counting My Chickens' is a delightful read. Also, don't miss her letters to and from Patrick Leigh Fermor, 'In Tearing Haste'. I think she may have been one of the best writers among the Mitford sisters.
I agree. What is interesting is that she rarely read a book, despite writing such good ones. One of her friends was Evelyn Waugh. He sent her a copy of his book about John Knox. The Duchess read the inscription, To darling Debo. You won't find a word in here to offend your Protestant sympathy. She read no further. A friend picked up the book, flicked through it, and found totally blank pages.
So happy to brag that I knew her.
bryantppierce I am staggeringly jealous!!!
She was witty, intelligent and understated. She was elegant and self-deprecating. I wanted to know her.
I did, slightly. You are absolutely correct in your assessment. A lady of decided views, with no patience for the extremes of political correctness that get bandied about. Always direct and scrupulously honest. I believe that the world is a poorer place since her death.
She is England, she is elegance, she is what I adore about England ...witty and unassuming very English
She was a bit of giggle unlike many on this planet.
Charming. Tales of a lost era.
Did you know that Debo was a huge Elvis fan and had his music played at her funeral.
She had an Elvis telephone in her sitting room and loved visiting Gracelands. She also enjoyed going to an Elvis tribute show.
An extraordinary woman, I visited Chatsworth for the first time a few weeks ago, her presence permeated the place although I had never, until later, researched it, the Mitfords were an example of the gradual change that occurred in the political thinking of the newer, more enlightened, less shielded, members of the aristocracy, Fascists, Communists, Capitalists, what fun evening meals must have been.
Tommy Hall - I read the biography of the family (maybe 3 books in total). Their stories were fascinating. However, they did go through bad times too. It was not the best of times. Although good reading, I would not have traded places.
I really ẹnoyed this interview. Thanks much for the upload. 🐱🐕🐇
Bygone era. Class.
Thank you so much for this wonderful interview, The Frick. Wonderful to hear.
So very Brilliant. A Star was lost, but you captured it for us❤️. Thank You.
She talks more posh than the Queen!!!!
Wonderful. Thank you for uploading. “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” - L.P. Hartley One only wishes it possible to return to that 'country'.
The Blytonian You don’t miss it until it’s gone.
All day I've been reading DDD's memoir "Wait for Me". The chapters on World War 2 brought me several times to tears. It isn't just the sorrow of those days, the loss of so very many loved ones, but also her unpretentious, beautiful, evocative style which barely veils the personal tragedies she endured. Interesting that the Duke warned in the 1980's of the danger of the rise of militant Islamism.
She aided Hitler and is a traitor to Britain.
The brutal Islamic invasion of Europe which triggered the Crusades certainly set the tone, and their violent expansionist ideology remains, although largely ignored by their enablers in the media.
I never laugh at comedy or comedians , I am a bit weird, but this had me giggling.
She was a real Lady! RIP!
Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obliges". The Dictionnaire de l’Académie française defines it thus: ⁕Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly. ⁕ One must act in a fashion that conforms to one's position, and with the reputation that one has earned. The Oxford English Dictionary says that the term "suggests noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility." Being a noble meant that one had responsibilities to lead, manage and so on. One was not to simply spend one's time in idle pursuits.
Happy belated 94th birthday Debo!!!
This is wonderful. Debo has a beautiful voice and is such a gracious lady. The Mitfords are such a fascinating family.
RIP Debo
I met her on a School trip many years ago and found her to be very down to earth but her husband the Duke was a bit stuffy, i belive she was the driving force behind 'Chatsworth' being more accessible
I had read all the books on The Mitford Sisters , so fascinating .
Great interview
I love how she says, "Oh Jack"
fabulous....The Duchess is so droll and amusing....not many people like this left now.R.I.P.
Mark Wardel I love how much she is so endeared to her father and sister, Jessica. And I loved her description of her mum being so fresh in her food choices. It seems her sister Nancy was horrid to her. Reminds me of how I and my brother treated our baby sister. I regret that.
@@KDL861 ,don’t feel that way, it’s character building evidently!
Poor Debo. Such a mad, mad family. Her poor brother Tom gone as a very young man… her sister/ brother in law early deaths…Her dull marriage was full of drama sudden changes. Later later her husband a drinker who never got over his sudden succession ranting and barking the rest of his life. A very strange existence. The anecdotes are of course humorous yet the change of the political winds must had been so draining for her. Especially as she watched everyone die before her one by one by one from her palace window…
We can NEVER get enough of history!
What a ridiculously long intro, too bad
Patrick Leigh Fermor RIP.
Thank you from Greece.
Beautiful
A remarkable woman for sure
A wonderful, beautiful woman . Thank you for sharing.
A sparkling Grande Dame indeed. Never met her, but I once got lost in her yew maze at Chatsworth when I was a nipper, I still have this mild dislike of overly trimmed shrubberies. Didn't know she corresponded with Paddy Fermor for such a long time... my copy of 'In Tearing Haste' arrived today.
So enjoyable!
"In Tearing Haste" is a wonderful book. Paddy and Debo had a marvelous correspondence lasting decades that is such a delight to read. Highly recommend this book and any of The Duchess's memoirs.
So, why did that woman literally toss that blanket onto the Duchess' lap? How completely rude.
I enjoyed a very different kind of laugh which I have not had the fortune of experiencing for a long time. Those who speak against aristocracies are tasteless and thoughtless.
Well said!
Her nature is revealed when she makes eye contact and thanks the anonymous assistant.
Simply wonderful.
How I would have loved to be her friend! RIP Debo. What a gem. So glad I got to visit Chatsworth House last year. Extraordinary!
Update 2019: I just have to watch this now and then. Laughed until tears rolled again at the "Hubbling Bubbling Gland!"
Chatsworth. Best of the grand houses?
Very charming lady ....and a very interesting life. Sad to hear she died yesterday
😔 Sad.
just lovely
Jessica's nickname is not "Decker" but "Decca". Could you correct that in the captions? (15:13 and on)
Fabulous Lady!!!!
Is this the sister who was neither a communist nor a nazi? How refreshing! Sometimes, though not often, there's something to be said for staid, conventional and unimaginative.
I do hppe that these distinguished families will prosper and prosper financially to defend and protect all the wonderful legacies.
Are you crazy? These families are looters and parasites.
I hope we all survive... ❤️❤️❤️😘
WHAT A VOICE THIS DUCHESS HAS.
At 24:21 caption should read "Dinky, her daughter with Esmond Romilly" not "Esmond, probably".
Thank you for the correction. The captions have been edited to reflect your input.
EFBensonFan Please tell me are there any descendants any children you seem to know a lot about it I would be very interested thank you
Old pre 1066 family! Wow!
so glad I found this! Paddy in the bath with his black socks on did make me laugh
The captions are wrong: 54:31, it's Lord Mountbatten, not Lord Mount Baton.
Thank you for the edit. The captions have been amended to reflect your input.
RIP
What a wonderful interview - I love it.
cannot believe no one made a series, along the production of The Crown style, about this entire family. starting w/ period piece & their strange ,various politics & social lives. while marching thru the 20th century. Here's "2010", Her father was born in 1878(!). g5, 25 Oct2022
Her timing is marvellous.
Simply wonderful, ausgezeichnet!
Very different life lived than us ordinary folk.
Correction: you got LISMORE and County WATERFORD wrong on the sub.
Thank you. The captions have been edited to reflect your input.
I truly enjoyed this. thank you
20:08 The poem goes "The hounds and the horses..." not "the hands on the horses".
Jolly marvellous
Oh dear, it's governesses not "governances" at 19:05 and Esmond Romilly at 21:18. And so on.
Thank you for the corrections. The captions have been edited to reflect your input.
There is also Paddy, not Patty.....
41:11 it should be Poste restante
Thank you for the corrections.The captions have been amended to reflect your input.
The subtitles refer t Drew Heims. It is rather HEINZ, as in the 57 varieties. (Not sure if it should be Drue and not Drew!)
Thank you. The captions have been edited to reflect the correction.
How unexpected but welcome and so civilised to be thanked!
We use a missal and mine was £58 and I think I left in on a chapel pew on Sunday and I ask Our Blessed Mother to show me where I left it.
I want the book !
16:26: The Duchess is referring to cotton wool, not a cotton ball.
The interviewer is not very good. Would have liked to learn more about this person instead of anecdotes of other people.
She mistakenly thought that Horace was a G reek poet. Paddy carried with him the Loeb edition of Horace, a Latin poet of Augustan Rome.
A wonderful interview! I noticed however that whenever the location of Chatsworth was mentioned (Derbyshire), the subtitles showed it as Devonshire...
Many thanks for this.
big lady....
Wow, that interviewer just threw that blanket at her. So rude.
The German general was Kreipe.
Anna. Mitford. Hael. New York
What. Is. Middle. Initial. Of. Husband. Tomas. Hael?? Wedding date. Of. Anna. Mitford. And. Tomas. Hael.??
The same tone of voice than her sister Diana...
Cool, Frick
Why does she call Edmond (Romilly), Decca's first husband, Desmond?
It's Official: that vintage has gone FLAT.
may i know he name of the anochour?
You have a bad word in your name.
I believe she means "El Rocío" not "El Rochero" in Spain.
Thanks for the correction!
I LOVE YOU,.
She has access to some of the best cream on the planet.
Oh, how I'd love to try that cream.
I am Australian and was just minutes ago thinking it would be good dairy farming land there