About this episode
Carla Kaplan discusses the life of Jessica Mitford, a muckraking journalist and civil rights activist, in her book 'Troublemaker'.
Muckraking journalist Jessica Mitford and her 5 sisters – two of whom were intimate friends with Hitler – were global celebrities during the early and mid-20th century, known for their colorful personal lives and political differences. Born a British aristocrat like her sisters, Jessica Mitford rejected her upbringing at an early age, eventually moving to America, where she became a communist, civil rights activist, and bestselling author. Northeastern University literature professor Carla Kaplan, our guest this week, tells Jessica Mitford's story in her book, "Troublemaker." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Guest: Carla Kaplan
Topics covered
- journalism
- biography
- political activism
- history
- literature
Keywords
- Jessica Mitford
- Carla Kaplan
- muckraking
- civil rights
- biography
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Northeastern University
Books & works: Troublemaker
More episodes of Q&A
- Jonathan Wilson, "The Power and the Glory" · June 8, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Gayle Feldman, "Nothing Random" · June 1, 2026 · 60 min
- Lamar Alexander, "Education of a Senator" · May 25, 2026 · 1h 1m
- Adam Szetela, "That Book Is Dangerous!" · May 18, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch Discusses Heroes of 1776 · May 11, 2026 · 51 min
- Historian & Biographer Robert Caro · May 4, 2026 · 1h 3m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Q&A podcast page.