The Personal Diary of Mrs Ismay Mason-MacFarlane (née Pitman), Budapest 1931-1934
A fascinating and highly collectable manuscript diary, written by Mrs Ismay Mason-MacFarlane, wife of Noel Mason-MacFarlane, British military attaché in Budapest during the inter-war years.
The diary includes typed and handwritten pages, with entries relating to gruelling cross-Europe motoring journeys, luxurious Orient Express rail journeys, visits to her husband’s WWI battle grounds and cemeteries, British diplomatic and military social life, meetings with government officials and Hungarian officers, Budapest legation life, hotels, parties, holidays, and emotional reunions with their children from boarding school.
The front cover bears the handwritten label: “I.M.McF. Budapest Diary 1931-1934”
With women’s history and travel writing interest, also attractive as the first-hand record of a British woman moving through diplomatic society in Central Europe during a highly charged historical period.
Lieutenant-General Sir Frank Noel Mason-MacFarlane CB, DSO, MC*
Mason-MacFarlane was a significant British military figure. He was a senior British Army officer and his wartime appointments included with BEF as Director of Military Intelligence based at GHQ in France 1939-40, attaché at the British military mission in Moscow and as Governor and Commander of Gibraltar.
This diary belongs to the earlier, highly collectable Budapest period, when Mason-MacFarlane was serving as British military attaché in Central Europe.
Diary Description
Good original period condition overall, with clear signs of age and use. Please note:
A rare named inter-war diplomatic diary from the private circles of a famous British military attaché. Such 1930s Central European diaries are rarely encountered, and this example has provenance, named association and pre-war atmosphere that should appeal to collectors.
Please request a more detailed provenance, which is available on request if required