Darling monster : the letters of Lady Diana Cooper to her son John Julius Norwich 1939-1952

The glittering letters of British socialite Lady Diana Cooper to her son John Julius Norwich, from pre-World War Two London to post-Liberation Paris 'Please, darling monster, write as often as you can. It's so sad waiting for letters that don't come and are not even written. I love my darling boy. Don't treat me so badly again or I'll have your lights and liver when I get home.' 19 November 1939 'I wish, I wish it was all over – Hitler defeated, the lights up again and the guns still.' 2 October 1940 Lady Diana Cooper was the Edwardian It Girl who inspired novelists from Evelyn Waugh to Nancy Mitford. Born Lady Diana Manners, she was an aristocrat, society darling and an actress. Married to political star Duff Cooper, they were the golden couple at the heart of 20th century British upper-class life. This extraordinary collection of letters written by Diana to her only son, John Julius Norwich, takes us from the rumblings of war, through the Blitz to rural Sussex to post-Liberation Paris. Beyond all the glitz, Diana emerges in these letters as highly intelligent, funny and fiercely loyal: a woman who disliked extravagance and was often shy, who was happiest in the countryside and whose greatest love were her husband and son John, who would later become a leading historian and broadcaster. These illuminating letters document some of history's most dramatic events, but they provide a vivid and touching portrait of the love between a mother and son, separated by war, oceans – and the constraints of the time they lived in. ' Diana Cooper is as vivid in literature and social legend as she was in life. Her letters are frank, witty and humorous' The Times **** As read on BBC Radio 4 **** Lady Diana Cooper was an aristocrat, society darling, an actress of stage and early screen. When she married rising political star Duff Cooper, they became the golden couple who knew everyone who was anyone; they sat at the very heart of British public life. Diana's letters to her only son, John Julius Norwich, cover the period 1939 to 1952. They take us from the rumblings of war, through the Blitz, which the Coopers spent holed up in the Dorchester (because it was newer, and therefore less vulnerable, than the Ritz), to rurual Sussex where we see Diana blissfully setting up a smallholding as part of the war effort. After a spell with the Free French in Algiers, Duff was appointed British Ambassador to France and the couple settled into the glorious embassy in post-Liberation Paris. Over and beyond all the glitz, Diana emerges in these letters as highly intelligent, funny, fiercely loyal: a... Lady Diana Cooper Was An Aristocrat, Society Darling, An Actress Of Stage And Early Screen. When She Married The Politician Duff Cooper, They Became The Golden Couple Who Knew Everyone Who Was Anyone; They Sat At The Very Heart Of British Public Life. These Are Her Letters To Her Son, John Julius Norwich, Who Has Edited This Collection. By Diana Cooper ; Edited By Viscount John Julius Norwich. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Hardcover with unclipped dust jacket. First edition, first impression. Minor shelfwear to jacket only, no other faults. Very good condition. AD