What do you think?
Rate this book
Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford
From British high society to republican Spain and civil rights America, the inspiring, wildly entertaining story of Jessica Mitford—investigative journalist, radical activist, renegade aristocrat.
‘Jessica Mitford is a sister of mine. If I had to go into a room with a leopard, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask for her.’ — Maya Angelou
‘The cult of the Mitfords, which now features a shelf of books and several TV documentaries, threatens in itself to become a bore on an almost Bloomsbury scale. But [their] mad father, when making dispositions of his property, wrote in his will the words “except Jessica.” And the bookstore at the Devonshire stately home in Chatsworth displays works by and about every Mitford sister but her. These paltry aristocratic gestures confirm, as do [her] letters, that it was Decca, exiled and intransigent, who was the exceptional one.’ — Christopher Hitchens
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 antifascist and antiracist. 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 pioneer Dr Spock to Decca’s best 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.
‘Jessica Mitford is a sister of mine. If I had to go into a room with a leopard, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask for her.’ — Maya Angelou
‘The cult of the Mitfords, which now features a shelf of books and several TV documentaries, threatens in itself to become a bore on an almost Bloomsbury scale. But [their] mad father, when making dispositions of his property, wrote in his will the words “except Jessica.” And the bookstore at the Devonshire stately home in Chatsworth displays works by and about every Mitford sister but her. These paltry aristocratic gestures confirm, as do [her] letters, that it was Decca, exiled and intransigent, who was the exceptional one.’ — Christopher Hitchens
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 antifascist and antiracist. 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 pioneer Dr Spock to Decca’s best 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.
561 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2025
37 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kaplan
8 books4 followersCarla Kaplan is the Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature at Northeastern University. She is the author of The Erotics of Talk: Women's Writing and Feminist Paradigms, Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters, and Miss Anne in Harlem: The White Women of the Black Renaissance She is also editor of Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folk Tales from the Gulf States and Dark Symphony and Other Works by Elizabeth Laura Adams.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 20, 2026
Kaplan has created a masterpiece in biography.
Decca was a (unwilling) member of the famous Mitford family, "such a perfect reflection of the times that it was often difficult to believe that the Mitford family had not been invented."
Nancy the writer, Pam the unassuming, Tom, the only brother who died in WWII, Diana the fascist, Unity the fascist who loved Hitler, Decca the communist, and Debo the Duchess of Devonshire. Despite her ongoing frostiness with family, she always used the Mitford name in print so more eyes would see her work.
Decca invested heavily with time, money, and freedom in the causes she believed in--fair wages, civil rights etc. Far more than any of her siblings. Despite her communist ways, she never quite lost her aristocratic tendencies. First class travel, staying at Debo's Chatsworth when visiting, left child rearing to someone else etc. One of my favorite lines is how Decca was "suspicious of refrigeration."
Decca was not moved to ever forgive Diana for marrying the UK's fascist leader (in the presence of Hitler), but would let Unity's loyalty to the Nazis go unchallenged (Unity attempted to commit suicide when war was declared between the UK & Germany). Her parents' marriage fell apart when her mother was supportive of Hitler, and the parent she cut off was her father.
At the beginning of WWII, Decca ran away with her cousin to Spain, and they later married and moved to the USA. Her husband, Esmond was killed in action. Decca stayed in the US to raise their daughter, who would become a vital member of the Civil Rights movement. Her second marriage was to Bob Treufhoft, a Jewish communist/civil rights lawyer--who coincidentally mentored Hillary Clinton--and would bring two more children. Decca's independent claim to fame was exposing the excessive amount of money it took to die in the United States. She took on other subjects such as prison and the cost of giving birth, but none took off like "The American Way of Death."
Decca was critical and often unforgiving. She was upset when her daughter dropped out of college to join the civil rights movement. Decca begged her parents for a proper education, which she never received (common for the time, as daughters were often raised to manage only a household), and she remained bitter about it until the end of her days. Decca experienced a hard life, losing two of her four children (infant to measles and hit by a bus) and sometimes her ability to work because of causes she supported.
Decca also kept up the absurd Mitford nicknames. Her daughter's name is Constancia and is commonly known as Dinky to this day.
I underlined a lot in this book, but here is one for the record:
Central Heating and American bathrooms captivated her, as did American generosity and open curiosity. Americans were so interested, she marveled, so unrestrained in their enthusiasms.
Decca was a (unwilling) member of the famous Mitford family, "such a perfect reflection of the times that it was often difficult to believe that the Mitford family had not been invented."
Nancy the writer, Pam the unassuming, Tom, the only brother who died in WWII, Diana the fascist, Unity the fascist who loved Hitler, Decca the communist, and Debo the Duchess of Devonshire. Despite her ongoing frostiness with family, she always used the Mitford name in print so more eyes would see her work.
Decca invested heavily with time, money, and freedom in the causes she believed in--fair wages, civil rights etc. Far more than any of her siblings. Despite her communist ways, she never quite lost her aristocratic tendencies. First class travel, staying at Debo's Chatsworth when visiting, left child rearing to someone else etc. One of my favorite lines is how Decca was "suspicious of refrigeration."
Decca was not moved to ever forgive Diana for marrying the UK's fascist leader (in the presence of Hitler), but would let Unity's loyalty to the Nazis go unchallenged (Unity attempted to commit suicide when war was declared between the UK & Germany). Her parents' marriage fell apart when her mother was supportive of Hitler, and the parent she cut off was her father.
At the beginning of WWII, Decca ran away with her cousin to Spain, and they later married and moved to the USA. Her husband, Esmond was killed in action. Decca stayed in the US to raise their daughter, who would become a vital member of the Civil Rights movement. Her second marriage was to Bob Treufhoft, a Jewish communist/civil rights lawyer--who coincidentally mentored Hillary Clinton--and would bring two more children. Decca's independent claim to fame was exposing the excessive amount of money it took to die in the United States. She took on other subjects such as prison and the cost of giving birth, but none took off like "The American Way of Death."
Decca was critical and often unforgiving. She was upset when her daughter dropped out of college to join the civil rights movement. Decca begged her parents for a proper education, which she never received (common for the time, as daughters were often raised to manage only a household), and she remained bitter about it until the end of her days. Decca experienced a hard life, losing two of her four children (infant to measles and hit by a bus) and sometimes her ability to work because of causes she supported.
Decca also kept up the absurd Mitford nicknames. Her daughter's name is Constancia and is commonly known as Dinky to this day.
I underlined a lot in this book, but here is one for the record:
Central Heating and American bathrooms captivated her, as did American generosity and open curiosity. Americans were so interested, she marveled, so unrestrained in their enthusiasms.
December 29, 2025
Why is this book not getting more attention?!? Jessica Mitford's life is truly fascinating and this is a beautifully researched and written account of it. The number of causes she was involved in and people she knew is mind-boggling.
January 18, 2026
A wonderful read—I’ve been fascinated by the Mitfords since I was a teenager and read Poison Penmanship and The American Way of Death. I still was unprepared by the absolute madness of her early life and the quantities of people she knew. Her daughter’s partner was James Forman! She knew Grace Paley! “Cousin Winston” was Churchill! Etc.
December 26, 2025
I’ve read and watched a ton about the Mitfords, but I was interested to see what a new bio of Jessica Mitford might reveal. Nothing about her personal life was new to me, but I liked the predominance author Kaplan placed on Mitford’s career as a social activist and muckraker. A good deal of that was new to me and is a welcome addition to the usual treatment of her as almost a frivolous figure.
There is still a good proportion of content about Mitford’s personal life and her difficult relationship with her family, especially those of her sisters who chose the conventional and even far-right path. They were all inveterate letter-writers, and it’s painful to read letters between her sisters Diana and Deborah making cruel fun of Jessica’s left-wing activism, marriage to a Jewish man, and daughter’s marriage to a Black man. If you want to read more about just how horrible Diana was, in particular, you’ll get a couple of glimpses here (e.g., how her husband, fascist Oswald Mosley, hated only those Jews who didn’t support Hitler), but there are other books out there that can give you a fuller picture.
“Hollywood waxed cold, then hot, then cold again.” “pistol-whipped with a gun” [as contrasted to pistol-whipped with what?] “fealty and fidelity” [there is a difference, but fealty isn’t an apt adjective in the context used.]
Narrator Christina Delaine’s delivery is clear and well-modulated. Unfortunately, she can’t capture Jessica’s unique speaking style—though that’s an impossible task.
The book could have used a bit more editing to fix some awkward writing; e.g., “Hollywood waxed cold, then hot, then cold again” and “pistol-whipped with a gun.” But overall, this is a highly readable, entertaining, and informative biography.
There is still a good proportion of content about Mitford’s personal life and her difficult relationship with her family, especially those of her sisters who chose the conventional and even far-right path. They were all inveterate letter-writers, and it’s painful to read letters between her sisters Diana and Deborah making cruel fun of Jessica’s left-wing activism, marriage to a Jewish man, and daughter’s marriage to a Black man. If you want to read more about just how horrible Diana was, in particular, you’ll get a couple of glimpses here (e.g., how her husband, fascist Oswald Mosley, hated only those Jews who didn’t support Hitler), but there are other books out there that can give you a fuller picture.
“Hollywood waxed cold, then hot, then cold again.” “pistol-whipped with a gun” [as contrasted to pistol-whipped with what?] “fealty and fidelity” [there is a difference, but fealty isn’t an apt adjective in the context used.]
Narrator Christina Delaine’s delivery is clear and well-modulated. Unfortunately, she can’t capture Jessica’s unique speaking style—though that’s an impossible task.
The book could have used a bit more editing to fix some awkward writing; e.g., “Hollywood waxed cold, then hot, then cold again” and “pistol-whipped with a gun.” But overall, this is a highly readable, entertaining, and informative biography.
January 24, 2026
Troublemaker by Carla Kaplan is a vivid, funny, and deeply admiring portrait of Jessica “Decca” Mitford, a woman who refused every role her class and era assigned her. Born into British aristocracy and raised to marry well and behave quietly, Decca instead ran toward revolution, journalism, and lifelong dissent.
What makes this biography exceptional is its balance of political history and intimate character study. Kaplan captures Decca not only as an activist and investigative journalist, but as a restless, witty, and emotionally complex woman whose defiance was driven as much by curiosity and humor as by ideology. Her break from her glamorous, infamous sisters becomes more than family drama it becomes a moral choice.
The book’s greatest strength lies in showing how rebellion can be joyful. Decca’s friendships, her letters, her irreverence, and her refusal to be intimidated by power give the narrative warmth and momentum, even as it traces some of the twentieth century’s darkest conflicts. Her life reads as a reminder that courage can be playful, principled, and stubbornly hopeful all at once.
For readers drawn to literary biography, feminist history, political activism, and unconventional lives, Troublemaker offers a richly textured and inspiring account of a woman who chose justice over privilege and never looked back.
What makes this biography exceptional is its balance of political history and intimate character study. Kaplan captures Decca not only as an activist and investigative journalist, but as a restless, witty, and emotionally complex woman whose defiance was driven as much by curiosity and humor as by ideology. Her break from her glamorous, infamous sisters becomes more than family drama it becomes a moral choice.
The book’s greatest strength lies in showing how rebellion can be joyful. Decca’s friendships, her letters, her irreverence, and her refusal to be intimidated by power give the narrative warmth and momentum, even as it traces some of the twentieth century’s darkest conflicts. Her life reads as a reminder that courage can be playful, principled, and stubbornly hopeful all at once.
For readers drawn to literary biography, feminist history, political activism, and unconventional lives, Troublemaker offers a richly textured and inspiring account of a woman who chose justice over privilege and never looked back.
December 22, 2025
Jessica Mitford, the British aristocrat turned American muckraking journalist, lived an incredible life, and Carla Kaplan has written a riveting account of that life. I’d read a couple of Mitford’s books, but had little knowledge of Mitford’s personal life or the many tragedies she weathered. I was blown away by the amount and quality of Kaplan's research, which taught me so much about the historical periods Mitford lived through – the Spanish Revolution, World War II, the McCarthy Era, the Civil Rights Movement. And talk about a family split: Mitford became a firebrand communist, while several members of her family were devout fascists, one sister even being Hitler’s girlfriend! Mitford seemed to know everyone, from Winston Churchill (her first husband’s uncle) to her good friend Maya Angelou to Washington Post publisher Kay Graham to Black Panther leader Huey Newton to John F. Kennedy, with whom another of her sisters was close. The biography was long, but fascinating.
January 9, 2026
This is a very good book, detailing the life of Jessica (Decca) Mitford, the second youngest of the Mitford sisters. An eccentric aristocratic upbringing with family members infamous for their embrace of facsimile, Decca, was by contrast, a committed Communist and activist. Following her marriage to Esmond Romilly (Churchill’s cousin) they moved to the US and both embraced radical causes and monetized their aristocratic backgrounds for an American audience. Following Esmond’s death in WWII, Decca remarried Bob Trefhaut, a radical Jewish lawyer and settled permanently in the US. She wrote, organised, played on her aristocratic background and became prominent as a ‘muckraking’ investigative journalist. A detailed, affectionate and honest biography of a quite remarkable character who embodied English upper class confidence and interwar culture and chutzpah. A little too detailed in parts and some of the accounts of 1960s and 70s political machinations could do with some editing.
January 25, 2026
I've read a fair bit about the Mitford family but didn't know much about Jessica. So I was looking forward to learning about her life and work. She was very interesting and absolutely lived true to her convictions. That said, I thought this book was very problematic. Did it have an editor assigned???? It was unnecessarily long with a good deal of repetition, backtracking and hopping around in time and place. Other parts, that were seemingly greatly important to Jessica, were glossed over with no real depth (her children's marriages, etc...). There are many 5 star reviews (I find that very common on Good Reads) which seem more based on her life which is admittedly fascinating and not about the actual book. 3 stars is generous (more like 2 stars but I bumped it up for the sheer amount of research that was probably required). I recommend only if you are unexplainedly fascinated with this family, as I am. Otherwise, give it a pass and read something else.
January 19, 2026
Jessica Mitford was so much more than just one of the Mitford Sisters and is often portrayed as playing at Communism, a convenient foil to her two older sisters (and her mother) who were Fascist supporters. But Decca, as she was known, was a serious person who lived a fascinating and fulfilling life away from her family and achieved acclaim as a writer, journalist, and investigator. Her sisters’ denigration and denial of her accomplishments (which colors other Mitfordiana and biographies without presenting any context or counterpoint) is now a thing of the past thanks to Carla Kaplan’s thoroughly researched and well-documented biography, which reveals her to be a serious, flawed, fascinating and ultimately important and inspiring 20th century figure.
February 1, 2026
A fascinating life, not sure the writing style is up to the mark. I feel that there is only a handful of great biographers out there anyway, so most biographies are just okay. Still, it is good to bring a counternarrative to all those awful Diana-the-fascist-leaning Mitford biographies that seem to have dominated the market for the last 20 years. This book did teach me that the Mitfords -the whole lot - were even more racist and antisemitic than I ever thought, and that's to say something.
January 19, 2026
No matter what goes wrong in the world or in my life I can always count on the Mitford sisters to distract me. What an incredible life this woman led. (Don't get me wrong, Decca seems like a lot and I don't know that I would want to be friends with her but you can't deny her talent or her passion for her causes.)
January 2, 2026
A thorough look at a life well lived, if riddled with contradictions.
January 24, 2026
A splendid portrait of the most appealing of the Mitford sisters.
January 12, 2026
What a book to start the year with! How was I so unfamiliar with Jessica Mitford when I was familiar with the British Mitfords? Maybe there are just too many people right at the edges of the central timeline of history?
I hope that my life can be nearly as close to that centerline as Decca's.
Like all biographies, there were struggles here with repetition, but not enough to be seriously annoying.
I'll be recommending this book to other radical women for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley for this audioARC.
I hope that my life can be nearly as close to that centerline as Decca's.
Like all biographies, there were struggles here with repetition, but not enough to be seriously annoying.
I'll be recommending this book to other radical women for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley for this audioARC.
January 10, 2026
I have been fascinated with the Mitford sisters for a long time. This is a well-written biography of the one who came to America and is most well-known for her American Way of Death.
she and her second husband knew everyone in their time, and we're involved in American Civil Rights Movement and the McCarthy era.
she and her second husband knew everyone in their time, and we're involved in American Civil Rights Movement and the McCarthy era.
January 15, 2026
A rich, deeply researched portrait of Jessica “Decca” Mitford that captures both her mischief and her moral seriousness. Kaplan does a good job tracing Decca’s journey from eccentric aristocrat to sharp-tongued muckraker and committed activist. At times the level of detail can feel a bit dense, but overall this is an absorbing, illuminating biography that left me even more fascinated by Mitford’s unruly life.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews