Troublemaker

From British country homes to Republican Spain and civil rights America, the inspiring, wildly entertaining story of Jessica Mitford—investigative journalist, radical activist, renegade aristocrat.

Jessica ‘Decca’ Mitford was raised to marry well, not fight for others’ rights. Yet she rejected her eccentric, blue-blooded roots, running away from England to become an anti-fascist and anti-racist. Why is this rebellious heroine less famous than her glamorous sisters, who ranged from naughty to Nazi?

Troublemaker is the remarkable story of Decca’s life in pursuit of justice, in the Spanish Civil War and the Communist Party USA; her intrepid social reporting, and her relentless antics. Carla Kaplan celebrates a fierce intellect and powerful ally who brought joy to the struggle, unearthing fascinating details through interviews with the Mitford family, and exploring Decca’s thousands of witty letters. From Vietnam War dissident Dr Spock to Decca’s close friend Maya Angelou, this Mitford sister’s irreverent anti-authoritarianism deeply influenced American culture. Back home in Britain, her activism shamed those of her class—and her family—on the wrong side of history.

This passionate, often hilarious biography captures an extraordinary woman, and an extraordinary time in world history. Facing today’s injustices, we need Decca’s vibrant, committed example more than ever.

Author Biography

Carla Kaplan is an award-winning writer; the Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature at Northeastern University; and a Guggenheim and ‘Public Scholar’ Fellow. She is the author of the New York Times Notable Books Miss Anne in Harlem and Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters, among others.