This has been sitting on my shelf for years! Deborah Devonshire was the youngest of the famous Mitford daughters and after marriage to the 11th Duke of Devonshire she became a Duchess, moving into Chatworth House on the Duke gaining his inheritance. After reading this lovely reminiscent collection of stories I’m a fan. She writes with a relaxed friendly style and name drops with appalling ease about various Lords, Ladies, Dukes and Earls with nary an ounce of snobbishness. All these aristocrats were her friends and acquaintances, just part of her life and no one else could probably write about the problems of wearing a tiara and make it sound normal. I got the feeling that Deborarh Devonshire would have been (she died in 2014) a delight to know in person. She was well read, intelligent, funny, thoughtful and had that special quality of being able to talk with anyone about anything and make that person feel important. There are some black and white sketches which add a nice touch and there’s a very personal introduction by Alan Bennett which I recommend everyone read! ( )

A wonderfully varied collection of memories from a member of one of England's Great Families. Such chapter titles as 'Lagopus lagopus scoticus and its lodgers' (an essay on the Red Grouse's parasites) gives an idea of the fare on offer. There are chapters on everything from marriage to auction catalogues, and almost everything in between. A wonderful little read from a charming lady.

This delightful book of odds and ends (or peckings as she would have it) is the second offering by Deborah Devonshire. The dowager Duchess of Devonshire,the youngest of the Mitford sisters is a witty and entertaining writer. Most of these short pieces are very funny and the few that are not (such as a couple about President Kennedy) give an interesting inside view of world events of the time. However it is in the shorter and more parochial essays that the Duchess really shines. The description of 'The Farmer's Club Dinner' , the chapter on 'Writing A Book' and the short ,'Buying Clothes' are just brilliant.
As extra treats the reader is given an introduction by Alan Bennett and some drawings that fit the text so well,by Will Topley. ( )