Frederick II of Prussia attempted to escape his authoritarian father as a boy, but went on to become one of history's greatest rulers. Nancy Mitford brings this historical figure to sparkling life in this fascinating, intimate biography.

When Jeanne-Antoinette was nine, she was told by a fortune teller that she would one day become the mistress of the young Louix XV. Nancy Mitford tells the story of how the little girl rose, against a backdrop of intrigue, excess and high drama, to become the most powerful women of the 18th century French court, Le Pompadour.

Louis XIV was during his reign the most powerful king in Europe. He presided over a golden age of military and artistic achievement in France, and deployed his charm for spin and intrigue to hold his court and country within his absolute control. Mitford describes the daily life of this splendid court in sumptuous detail.

The meeting of Voltaire, successful financier, famous poet and troublemaker, and the enchanting amateur physicist and countess Eilie du Chatelet, was a meeting of both hearts and minds. In the Chateau de Cirey, the two brilliant intellects scandalised the French aristocracy with their passionate love affair.

Captures the foibles and fancies of the English upper class. Set in the privileged world of the county house party and the London season, this is a comedy of English manners.

Mitford and Waugh were gifted writers and great friends. Their friendship gave rise to this collection of 500 wonderful letters which are a witty and unique testament to their enduring talents.

Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love is one of the funniest, sharpest novels about love and growing up ever written. 'Obsessed with sex ' said Jassy, 'there's nobody so obsessed as you, Linda. Why if I so much as look at a picture you say I'm a pygmalionist.' In the end we got more information out of a book called Ducks and Duck Breeding. 'Ducks can only copulate, ' said Linda, after studying this for a while, 'in running water. Good luck to them.' Oh, the tedium of waiting to grow up Longing for love, obsessed with weddings and sex, Linda and her sisters and cousin Fanny are on the lookout...

Love in a Cold Climate is the sequel to Nancy Mitford's bestselling novel The Pursuit of Love. 'How lovely - green velvet and silver. I call that a dream, so soft and delicious, too.' She rubbed a fold of the skirt against her cheek. 'Mine's silver lame, it smells like a bird cage when it gets hot but I do love it. Aren't you thankful evening skirts are long again?' Ah, the dresses But oh, the monotony of the Season, with its endless run of glittering balls. Even fabulously fashionable Polly Hampton - with her startling good looks and excellent social connections - is beginning to wilt under...

Don't Tell Alfred is the wickedly funny sequel to Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. 'I believe it would have been normal for me to have paid a visit to the outgoing ambassadress. However the said ambassadress had set up such an uninhibited wail when she knew she was to leave, proclaiming her misery to all and sundry and refusing so furiously to look on the bright side, that it was felt she might not be very nice to me.' Fanny is married to absent-minded Oxford don Alfred and content with her role as a plain, tweedy housewife. But overnight her life changes when...

The Penguin Complete Novels of Nancy Mitford. Here in one volume are all eight of Nancy Mitford's sparklingly astute, hilarious and completely unputdownable novels: Highland Fling, Christmas Pudding, Wigs on the Green, Pigeon Pie, The Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate, The Blessing and Don't Tell Alfred. Published over a period of 30 years, they provide a wonderful glimpse of the bright young things of the thirties, forties, fifties and sixties in the city and in the shires; firmly ensconced at home or making a go of it abroad; and what the upper classes really got up to in peace and in...