Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A Mitford daughter who married British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, was interned during WWII, and later lived in exile near Paris.
On the island
Eight records
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 'Jupiter'
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
I chose that because it was the first rarely beautiful, sublime music I ever heard. I suppose I must have been about fourteen. My brother introduced me to great music.
It's the aria from Norma, and it shows Callas at her great, extraordinary best, her very beautiful, tender voice she had.
Pop record (based on Handel)
It's really based on Handel. It's got such mysterious words, and it was such a favourite tune on the French wireless. It happened to be a very hot, delicious, happy summer at the temple where I live, and so it's got memories for me.
In conversation
Presenter asks
12:24Why was [Oswald] so attracted by Fascism?
It was just the name, then, which was given to her. A movement which is more or less worldwide [all] over Europe. [It] which embodied, I suppose you'd say, a great many of his economic ideals. … the black shirt had various advantages, really. One was that it was extremely cheap. I think it cost a shilling. And therefore, unemployed people could wear it. … it was such a success that an Act of Parliament had to be passed to forbid them wearing it.
Presenter asks
14:37Was your husband anti-Semitic?
He really wasn't. You know, he didn't know [a] Jew from a Gentile. [But] as the Jews were so [against] him and [attacked] him as much as they possibly could, both in the newspapers and physically when there were marches in places like Manchester … He as it were picked up the challenge. And then a great number of his followers who rarely were anti-Semitic joined him because they thought they were able to fight their old enemy.
Presenter asks
18:46Did you admire [Hitler]?
Very much. He had extraordinary sort of mesmeric eyes. I think many people remarked that. [He had] blue eyes and also he had so much to say. I mean, he was so interesting, fascinating. Perfectly willing to talk.
The keepsakes
The book
Marcel Proust
I'm very happy to have a Bible in Shakespeare for many reasons. Probably the chief reason I hope it's the authorised version. is that it's early seventeenth century English, which is so beautiful. But they are rather short on jokes, so I thought I might have Proust if I'm allowed his novel. It's rather long. So I've read it many times, but each time one finds new beauties and new things to laugh at. It makes you laugh out loud.
Presenter asks
25:53Tell me what it was like in prison.
Utterly and completely disgusting. The dirt and the horror of prison. But you see, the awful thing for me was leaving the children. 'Cause I had four children. Two boys aged eight and ten and two babies, one eighteen months and the other a few weeks old. And that really was dreadful, because of course years went by and they changed completely and one missed all those years of them.
Presenter asks
32:52Do you have any great regrets about your life?
I'm not sure, really, whether I have. I sometimes wondered whether … had I known, had I had the slightest idea that I should be imprisoned, I would have never have touched [it]. I would have given up going to Germany or whatever. But first of all I hoped there was going to be peace. I never really believed there would be a war. I hoped human reason would prevail. But had I known, I suppose I really would have felt my duty was with my children. Because it's a dreadful thing to miss three and a half years of their lives.
Presenter asks
33:40Do you regret your friendship with Hitler?
I can't regret that. It was so interesting and fascinating. All the well known and famous people I've known in my life, I couldn't regret having known them, because for one thing it's something to measure by. The nonsense that gets written. And I suppose it will be till Doomsday, because that is not only journalism, but I'm afraid it's human nature if you don't like somebody. You're taxing.
“I really loved her more than my parents, as far as love goes.”
“I really don't believe we were particularly special. I think something that's been invented of late.”
“I knew it would mean the death of my sister, but I also knew it would mean the death of millions of other people, and of course my brother was killed in the war, my only brother.”
“Utterly and completely disgusting. The dirt and the horror of prison.”
“I can't regret that [friendship with Hitler]. It was so interesting and fascinating.”