Nancy Mitford’s “Love in a Cold Climate” was a book that as a group I think many of us were looking forward to reading. Knowing of Nancy Mitford’s aristocratic background and family, plus her scandalous and politically extreme sisters, we were expecting an interesting read.
However, this was a book that definitely left our book group ‘cold’. The novel is often referred to as witty and satirical, “a wickedly funny satire, brilliantly lampooning upper-class society” or “a comic masterpiece”. Nevertheless, there were only two people within our group of 12 who enjoyed either the book as a whole or in part.
The opening pages of the book really did not draw you in or entice you to read on. However, after persevering, you then encountered a cast of characters with whom it was difficult to empathise or, in some cases, even like. Many of the characters were spoiled and/or vacuous and the world of extreme wealth and aristocratic indifference depicted in the book was off-putting.
In particular, the romance between Polly and her "lecherous" uncle, Boy Dougdale, was very distasteful, with little humour in what was a dated concept that felt uncomfortable to our group.
On a more positive note, there were some parts of the book that were found to be humorous, we enjoyed Fanny’s observations, and the eccentric Radlett sisters, Jassy and Victoria, brought energy to the narrative with their youthful indifference to adult drama.
On the whole, Love in a Cold Climate did not warm our group to Nancy Mitford, and it was commented that the majority would not wish to read another of her novels.
The next book to be read will be "My Lover’s Lover" by Maggie O’Farrell.
This will be discussed on Friday 10th April 2026.