John and Max's Guestbook

Chatsworth
My mother loved Chatsworth. The Duchess of Devosnhire is Deborah, last survivor of the famous and infamous Mitford sisters (daughters of Lord Redesdale). Nancy Mitford was a famous novelist, Diana married Oswald Moseley, head of the British Fascists (the Black Shirts), Unity also became a Fascist as well (and survived a suicide attempt after England war with Germany). She was a huge admirer of Hitler, who apprently told her she was a perfect model for Aryan womanhood. Jessica Mitford went entirely in the opposite direction, became a communist, and ran off with her cousin Esmond Romilley (Churchill's nephew) to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Romilley was killed, and Jessica and her infant daughter moved to America, where she continued her work with the Communist Party, through which she met her 2nd husband, radical lawyer Robert Treuhaft. She ultimately made name for herself as a muckraker ("The American Way of Death" was her expose of the funeral industry. She and Treuhaft lived in Oakland until her death. Diana Moseley died in Paris during that summer heat wave several years ago. Her granddaughter, Gloria Guinness, is a fashion icon and society doyenne in Britain. Deborah Mitford always wanted to be a duchess, and amrried the younfer son of the Duke of Devonshire. Her husband acceded to the title when his elder brother died.

Who for?
I can't help but wonder who all of this is for. Are there that many tourists or other visitors that their own SHOP is warranted? This is an incredible place and would take a heck of a lot of sales of bottles of wine to keep going. The economics--and there must be lots of others places like this in England--is mysterious to me. But for those of us that feel a kinship with English history, I'm glad they are able to keep places like Chatsworth House open to the public, and for Yanks like you to share it with the rest of us!

Tug of DNA
Such beautiful pictures! They remind me that my brother bicycled from the southern tip of England to the northern tip of Scotland TWICE in his sixties, through country like what you've shown in your pictures.

The Bard
My, my. The Bard of Auburn has waxed eloquent!

Huzzah...
Very nice, it's what I've been waiting to see. You do seem to fit in there... Especially the pub with Caitlin and a cousin! John

THEATRE??
Max, will you guys be seeing any Theatre whilst in England? Royal Shakespeare? I was curious. And if you do, PLEASE TELL! :)

Thanks
Thanks Max and John, for this vicarious journey, with all of it's interesting details and photos. Can't wait for your next adventure!

Great pictures!
What great pictures (except maybe half of one)! The bright monuments against the dark background are really stunning. It appears that you did actually make the evening tour. We're so relieved.

Back
Back online. Cool!