Libby Purves with the Duchess of Devonshire on Midweek.... Oh Give Me Strength

[ipanemagirl]

I've just heard the podcast of Libby with 'DEBO' Devonshire!

I don't know how to begin to describe the vile curdle of bowing, scraping, adoring, chumminess, over-familiarity that Libby displays! She obviously is beside herself with worship and even calls the woman "Debo" a couple of times. I mean that is hardly appropriate whoever the woman was but here it is absolutely toe-curling. Honestly it is repulsive, don't listen to it. You can hear exactly how massive a snob Purves is from the arslikhan of it gross gross gross!!!

Did anyone else have the bad luck to hear this too?!>!

Gosh will have to go and load podcast now!
I did hear the bit where Debo said she hadn't cooked since 1943 but it hadn't stopped her writing a cookery book...

I think she does go by the name of Debo though...

But it's Debo for Deborah, not anything to do with Devonshire, so actually her real name. Not trying to defend her, just making a point.

oh I know it is the woman's name, it's just Libby WORSHIPPED her and couldn't hide it it was so vile my father is a bit similar with those he considers his social superiors, it just makes me heave!!

I think the Dowager Duchess had a French chef when the Duke was alive - not sure what she does now but it probably doesn't involve opening a packet of supernoodles...

I just don't think you should respect people just because of an accident of birth. So she's Mitford, so what? What about her sister marrying a fascist? Arselikhan Libby didn't bring that up did she?!

I've got her "cookbook"
Nice corned beef hash recipe.
Rest of it a bit heavy on the pheasant's eggs and suchlike.
The farm shop worth a visit though.
Hasn't she moved into a house in the private village of Edensor on the estate now? Probably gets her quails eggs on toast brought down by a gloved manservant.

farm shop is V good.

one of her sisters was a communist radical midwife, who fought for womens' rights to give birth without being made to be shaved/lie down/legs in stirrups and all that in the US. So it all balances out.

People do grovel round the Mitfords. The worst was the awfully sucky-up articles about Diana when she was alive, which went on and on about how beautiful she was.
Jessica Mitford was very cool, but then she rejected all the aristocratic stuff.

I would have liked to heard that. I rather like Deborah Devonshire, she comes across as very self-deprecating and funny (have read various letters anthologies).

Was it really fawning for a member of the aristocracy or just respect for a 90 year old woman?

Yes, she had 2 fascists for sister, but she also had 2 sisters who were incredibly good writers (one being a social campaigner to boot), I believe that she was the only sister who spoke to all the others. Think she comes across as a good egg.

Libby Purves drives me nuts anyway. And yes I hate the bowing and scraping to thick poshos who manage to actually market their gorgeous lifestyle and hang on to all their inherited land and wealth rather than frittering it away. I have just finished reading Decca, the letters of Jessica Mitford and they are fab-she lived an amazing life.

I've just finished Decca's letters too, and I must admit a fondness for all things Mitford. We're off to Chatsworth soon so I can indulge my Mitford passion, or pash as they'd probably describe it.

Oh God, I felt slightly nauseated just reading the title of your post.

And I say that as someone who has read far too much Mitfordalia...

Agree re the letters of Decca. She was a brilliant writer.

Llaregub hope you enjoy your day at Chatsworth. I went there a couple of months back and really enjoyed it. What was so nice was that it was very laid back in the gardens, it is obvious that local families go there for the day with their kids to enjoy the outside space. Loads of little ones paddling in the fountains, friendly dogs lolling around, a couple of lads playing ball games. It has a lovely atmosphere.

The toilets are nice too Getorfmoiland (no, really!)

Agree re. Chatsworth - I come from generations of Labour voters but the Devonshires do give the aristocracy a good name.

Once had a tussle with the late Duke at some event - I was trying to hold a door open for this 80-something gentleman but he was insisting on holding it open for me. I had to surrender gracefully.

Listen again here to see what I mean.

No 'twas not just respect for an elderly lady, 'twas grovelling can't bear it!

I loved Chatsworth though, it is just gorgeous, the gardens more than the house imho. That fountain is just fantastic. And that whole waterfall thing and the anthony Gormley statue which I think gets moved around. Lovely shop. Yes she's been farmed out to the estate.

But Libby was doing it again today with that poet on midweek, harumphing and hinting about being at Oxford and chortleing and shnorting to herself as if everything she says is terribly amusing when it is not Libby!!!!

LOL llareggub "pash"!!!

Ok, some Mitfords deserve respect just not grovelling!

LOL edam

that anecdote was a very fine one! Unfortunately I just imagined how much Libby would like it and guffaw herself off her chair in a shnorty fit of amusement at it!!!

Has anyone read the selected letters of the sisters to each other? Deborah got on with all by being incredibly nice to the person she was writing to while slagging off all the others. Youngest-child survival skills to the fore

'
one of her sisters was a communist radical midwife, who fought for womens' rights to give birth without being made to be shaved/lie down/legs in stirrups and all that in the US. So it all balances out.'

Exactly. You can't blame the woman for what one of her sisters did!

LOL smallchange

abraid I have nothing against the woman at all nor do I blame her for anything her sister did. It's Libby and the arselikhan I can't bear. And if this had NOT been the Duchess of Dev (dowager.. whatever) then Libby would have flung herself at the fascist connection like a great flailing limbed bull at a gate.

But not when she's bowing and scraping!!!

Was Jessica Mitford really a radical midwife? I know she wrote a book about birth but I didn't know she was so practically involved!

I don't think she trained as a MW. She certainly transformed the funeral industry with her book on death and American funerals. Her daughter was a nurse though.

I've read a book of the Mitford sisters letter. I love the way they casually mention an historical figure. The knew everyone!

The letters are great - collection of the Mitford sisters letters to one another over a period of (I think) 80 years. I am hoping another volume will come out.

Also Deborah Devonshire's letters to Patrick Leigh Fermor are a very good read.

yes, they did know everyone it seemed, from President Kennedy, to Churchill, the royal family (they famously disliked Princess Margaret, think Nancy Mitford called her a peep-toed dwarf).

I love reading the letters and about the Mitfords as it is a fascinating account of a life that was so vastly different to ours.

Agree that the gardens at Chatwsorth far more beautiful than the house, which is a bit sombre imo. Gardens and sculpture within are wonderful.

Yes, one of those books that I couldn't put down until the end. I loved their fearlessness which I guess could be read as a sense of entitlement but they really felt they could do anything. Decca was definitely my favourite but I do want to read Debo's letters.

There is nothing in Decca's book edited by Peter Sussman about being a midwife. She did write about America's drug experimentation on prisoners. Maybe that is what you were thinking of. I agree she was very radical though, especially given her background.

Am feeling all Mitford obsessed again and may have to toddle off to the library to see if they have any books.