• The Six

  • The Lives of the Mitford Sisters
  • By: Laura Thompson
  • Narrated by: Maggie Mash
  • Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (180 ratings)

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The Six  By  cover art

The Six

By: Laura Thompson
Narrated by: Maggie Mash
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Publisher's summary

The eldest was a razor-sharp novelist of upper-class manners; the second was loved by John Betjeman; the third was a fascist who married Oswald Mosley; the fourth idolized Hitler and shot herself in the head when Britain declared war on Germany; the fifth was a member of the American Communist Party; the sixth became Duchess of Devonshire.

They were the Mitford sisters: Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah. Born into country-house privilege in the early years of the 20th century, they became prominent as "bright young things" in the high society of interwar London. Then, as the shadows crept over 1930s Europe, the stark - and very public - differences in their outlooks came to symbolize the political polarities of a dangerous decade.

The intertwined stories of their stylish and scandalous lives - recounted in masterly fashion by Laura Thompson - hold up a revelatory mirror to upper-class English life before and after WWII.

The Six was previously published as Take Six Girls.

©2015 Laura Thompson (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about The Six

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your time.

What would have made The Six better?

It was a badly organized book. I have read about the Mitfords extensively and this is by far the worst account of their lives.

Would you ever listen to anything by Laura Thompson again?

I had no objection to the narrator.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes.

What character would you cut from The Six?

It's nonfiction - you can't cut anyone.

Any additional comments?

I was so disappointed in this book. I listened to the end, but it was so badly done that it did nothing for me except make me mad that I had wasted time and a credit on it.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Astonishing Narrator

I've always been interested in the Mitford story and quite enjoyed this book. The narrator, Maggie Mash, is absolutely fantastic and really made this book listenable. She is wonderful at conveying the distinct language and infle

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • SK
  • 10-16-16

what a family

you don't know whether to like them or not but you always find them interesting. initially the "story" was hard to follow but once you got the names straight it was smooth sailing.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Too hard to follow

I love biographies, especially about interesting women. However, this book is way too hard to follow. It jumps from one sister to another, back and forth in time, also referencing the characters and places in the books written by Nancy Mitford. So, the entire thing is thoroughly confusing. And boring to boot. I got through the third chapter and couldn't take it anymore. And the narrator's priggish sounding voice only added to the annoyance.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The True Story

The Mitford family has (in recent decades) fascinated those inclined to the mix of controversy, whimsy and Old English Aristocracy. But it's never been easy to know them in truth. They've had a way of writing and speaking what they want the public to think. This well researched book cuts through it all, and we enjoy and marvel at all the complexities of six very difference competing girls through to womanhood. A very interesting family, fun and furious at the same time.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Detailed

Too much detail for me. Written for British audience. Fascinating story, but I got lost in the minutia.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Very well written. I enjoyed listening to “The Six”. Ms. Thompson brings a fresh and detailed view of the lives and impact of each member of the Mitford’s.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Lots of talking, little story or character develop

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If there had been a story line or character develpment. It just jumped around.

What could Laura Thompson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Developed the characters individually instead of all 6 at once.

What about Maggie Mash’s performance did you like?

Well spoken and clear

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

irritation and disappointment

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disorganized

was one of our book club books, one we all agreed we disliked (in fact most opted to not even finish). Sad because their stories might be interesting but this book hops between characters, their books, and quotes that it's nearly impossible to follow.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The awful voice over when trying to voice spoken words

The story is probably good , but I will never know because I can’t listen to this terrible voice over . The basic narrative was ok , she should have stuck to that . Waste of money .

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