Carla Kaplan Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature c.kaplan@neu.edu Expertise African American literature and history, American literature, feminist theory, gender and sexuality studies, literary theory, modern literature and culture Carla Kaplan in the Press This book chronicles the British aristocrat who dedicated her life to social justice I chatted with Kaplan, who is the Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature at Northeastern University, about Mitford and her legacy. The Telegraph The secret life of Decca, the most rebellious Mitford sister Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford by Carla Kaplan is published on Dec 4. 6 New Books We Love This Week One of the six famous Mitford sisters, Jessica — known as Decca, a childhood nickname — was a left-wing activist first and muckraking journalist second, best known for “The American Way of Death,” her scathing 1963 exposé of the funeral industry. Air Mail Days of Decca Now Carla Kaplan brings us Troublemaker, the first biography of Jessica, the runaway Mitford who decamped to America, joined the Communist Party, and became a successful author, named by Time magazine as “Queen of the Muckrakers.” The Spectator Jessica was the only Mitford worth taking seriously In the wake of all this, Carla Kaplan’s exhaustively researched and thorough account of Jessica (or Decca, as everyone knew her and Kaplan calls her throughout) comes as a welcome relief. Reintroducing Jessica Mitford, the Activist With a ‘Concrete Upper Lip’ Carla Kaplan’s biography “Troublemaker” focuses on the fierce political commitments of the journalist best known for “The American Way of Death.” New books this week: A tome on capitalism, a deep dive on crosswords and more Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford, by Carla Kaplan. The Tribune Looking for the Restless Soul of Nella Larsen in Copenhagen “Larsen wanted readers to feel how difficult — impossible really — it was for Helga to try and escape racism; racism and sexism follow her wherever she goes,” said Carla Kaplan, a professor of American literature at Northeastern University who wrote the introduction for a recent Norton Critical Edition of “Quicksand.” Alice Walker Has ‘No Regrets’ Carla Kaplan, a professor of American literature at Northeastern University who has written about Walker’s work, said she is one of many influential progressive figures who have made profoundly contentious statements. “The question becomes, what do we do with one another when these moments happen,” Kaplan said. “One answer is that we cancel one another. […] Local writers will share National Endowment for the Humanities grant Other New England recipients and their projects include Yale University lecturer Edward Ball, who is writing about a Reconstruction-era klansman; Nicholas Basbanes, of North Grafton, on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Wesleyan University professor Andrew Curran on Denis Diderot; Smith College professor Michael Gorra on William Faulkner and the Civil War; Trinity College professor Christopher Hager on […] Carla Kaplan for Northeastern Global NewsWho was Jessica Mitford? New book seeks to unlock her life by Erin Kayata November 7, 2025 Northeastern celebrates arrival of leading women’s studies journal by Jason Kornwitz January 29, 2015 Uncovering ‘Miss Anne’ of the 1920s by Matt Collette April 5, 2012 What stories? Whose perspective? by Greg St. Martin April 20, 2011 NU Launches Gender Matters Lecture Series by News@Northeastern - Contributor February 6, 2007
This book chronicles the British aristocrat who dedicated her life to social justice I chatted with Kaplan, who is the Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature at Northeastern University, about Mitford and her legacy.
The Telegraph The secret life of Decca, the most rebellious Mitford sister Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford by Carla Kaplan is published on Dec 4.
6 New Books We Love This Week One of the six famous Mitford sisters, Jessica — known as Decca, a childhood nickname — was a left-wing activist first and muckraking journalist second, best known for “The American Way of Death,” her scathing 1963 exposé of the funeral industry.
Air Mail Days of Decca Now Carla Kaplan brings us Troublemaker, the first biography of Jessica, the runaway Mitford who decamped to America, joined the Communist Party, and became a successful author, named by Time magazine as “Queen of the Muckrakers.”
The Spectator Jessica was the only Mitford worth taking seriously In the wake of all this, Carla Kaplan’s exhaustively researched and thorough account of Jessica (or Decca, as everyone knew her and Kaplan calls her throughout) comes as a welcome relief.
Reintroducing Jessica Mitford, the Activist With a ‘Concrete Upper Lip’ Carla Kaplan’s biography “Troublemaker” focuses on the fierce political commitments of the journalist best known for “The American Way of Death.”
New books this week: A tome on capitalism, a deep dive on crosswords and more Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford, by Carla Kaplan.
The Tribune Looking for the Restless Soul of Nella Larsen in Copenhagen “Larsen wanted readers to feel how difficult — impossible really — it was for Helga to try and escape racism; racism and sexism follow her wherever she goes,” said Carla Kaplan, a professor of American literature at Northeastern University who wrote the introduction for a recent Norton Critical Edition of “Quicksand.”
Alice Walker Has ‘No Regrets’ Carla Kaplan, a professor of American literature at Northeastern University who has written about Walker’s work, said she is one of many influential progressive figures who have made profoundly contentious statements. “The question becomes, what do we do with one another when these moments happen,” Kaplan said. “One answer is that we cancel one another. […]
Local writers will share National Endowment for the Humanities grant Other New England recipients and their projects include Yale University lecturer Edward Ball, who is writing about a Reconstruction-era klansman; Nicholas Basbanes, of North Grafton, on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Wesleyan University professor Andrew Curran on Denis Diderot; Smith College professor Michael Gorra on William Faulkner and the Civil War; Trinity College professor Christopher Hager on […]
