Even compared to her famous British aristocratic sisters, Jessica Mitford lived a fascinating life.
As a teen, she ran away from home to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War. She moved to America with nothing and ended up creating a career for herself as a writer and activist. She was a Communist who refused to testify in front of the Un-American Activities Committee, a singer who once opened for Cyndi Lauper and a writer whose expose on the funeral industry is still in print today.
When Mitford died in 1996, she left behind 500 boxes of memorabilia. This served as the foundation for Northeastern University professor Carla Kaplan’s latest book, “Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford.” Out Nov. 25, it is a notably comprehensive biography of Mitford.
