Deborah Devonshire – born in 1920 – was the youngest of the mad bad Mitford sisters. She married Andrew Cavendish who at the time wasn’t the heir – but upon his brother tragic death became the heir to the Devonshire Dukedom in Derbyshire. The duchess has worked tirelessly to make Chatsworth what it is today, work she has been passionate about, one wonders what might have happened to Chatsworth if not for Debo.
I have read a lot of books about the Mitford sisters or by one of the Mitford sisters. I am in fact a little bit addicted to The Mitfords. The fact that one of them is still alive in 2012 delights me. I have never been to Chatsworth though – and I have no idea why – when I read Deborah Devonshire’s book ‘Wait for Me” last year I remember thinking I must get to Chatsworth – and I still haven’t. Maybe this year will be the year I arrange a day out there.
‘Counting my Chickens’ is a charming little book full of Debo’s observations of life, her affectionate portraits of some old friends – such as Patrick Leigh Fermor and James Less-Milne, and descriptions of her life and work at Chatsworth. She is often scathing about such people as Mr Blair – and those against fox hunting or who don’t understand the ways of the countryside. The duchess though has a sharp wit and this brings some real personality to her writing. Towards the end of this slim little volume is a piece entitles Road from the isles – in which Debo describes a journey from Inchkenneth off the cost of Mull, to London in 1939, that she took accompanied by two dogs and a goat she had been given by her mother. Hilarious stuff – and only could it have been a Mitford that undertook such a journey. ( )

The youngest, self-described illiterate, Mitford sister has written a very funny book. ( )