Antonia, age three: Later I graduated to swimming in the River Cherwell.Antonia, age three: Later I graduated to swimming in the River Cherwell.

Antonia, age three: Later I graduated to swimming in the River Cherwell.

On our bikes: Antonia and Thomas. On our bikes: Antonia and Thomas.

On our bikes: Antonia and Thomas.

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex: the scene of my earliest historical imaginings.Bodiam Castle, East Sussex: the scene of my earliest historical imaginings.

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex: the scene of my earliest historical imaginings.

Water Eaton Manor, near Oxford: the Elizabethan house where we spent an exciting year at the beginning of the war. Robert Sawyer

With Edmund Carr-Saunders doing lessons at Water Eaton: The Carr-Saunders family owned the house and were our hosts.With Edmund Carr-Saunders doing lessons at Water Eaton: The Carr-Saunders family owned the house and were our hosts.

With Edmund Carr-Saunders doing lessons at Water Eaton: The Carr-Saunders family owned the house and were our hosts.

The growing Oxford family: Antonia, Rachel, Paddy, Judith, Thomas; Christmas 1942 . The growing Oxford family: Antonia, Rachel, Paddy, Judith, Thomas; Christmas 1942 .

The growing Oxford family: Antonia, Rachel, Paddy, Judith, Thomas; Christmas 1942.

On the rocks in Cornwall, where we spent our annual holiday in wartime. On the rocks in Cornwall, where we spent our annual holiday in wartime.

On the rocks in Cornwall, where we spent our annual holiday in wartime.

Magdalen College (fonde en 1448) et la riviere Cherwell a Oxford en Angleterre vers 1925 --- Magdalen College and Cherwell river in Oxford in England c. 1925Magdalen College (fonde en 1448) et la riviere Cherwell a Oxford en Angleterre vers 1925 --- Magdalen College and Cherwell river in Oxford in England c. 1925

A view of Magdalen College Tower, Oxford, and the bridge over the River Cherwell: The tower was my first conscious historic sight. Apic/Getty Images

Age twelve, by Henry Lamb, who was married to Frank’s sister, Pansy. I spent a great deal of time at their house at Coombe Bissett near Salisbury with my cousin Henrietta Lamb. Henry Lamb EstateAge twelve, by Henry Lamb, who was married to Frank’s sister, Pansy. I spent a great deal of time at their house at Coombe Bissett near Salisbury with my cousin Henrietta Lamb. Henry Lamb Estate

Age twelve, by Henry Lamb, who was married to Frank’s sister, Pansy. I spent a great deal of time at their house at Coombe Bissett near Salisbury with my cousin Henrietta Lamb. Henry Lamb Estate

Chadlington Road, North Oxford, by John Betjeman, dedicated to my mother as “Eliza.” It shows the edge of the School House on the right and the house of the headmaster of the Dragon School on the left (we lived next door). The Dragon playing fields are ahead. Chadlington Road, North Oxford, by John Betjeman, dedicated to my mother as “Eliza.” It shows the edge of the School House on the right and the house of the headmaster of the Dragon School on the left (we lived next door). The Dragon playing fields are ahead.

Chadlington Road, North Oxford, by John Betjeman, dedicated to my mother as “Eliza.” It shows the edge of the School House on the right and the house of the headmaster of the Dragon School on the left (we lived next door). The Dragon playing fields are ahead.

The symbolic dragon was omnipresent at the Dragon School, seen here in the crest on my blazer, on my hat, on the title page of the school magazine, and on the weathervane above the boys’ changing room. Dragon School, Oxford The symbolic dragon was omnipresent at the Dragon School, seen here in the crest on my blazer, on my hat, on the title page of the school magazine, and on the weathervane above the boys’ changing room. Dragon School, Oxford

The symbolic dragon was omnipresent at the Dragon School, seen here in the crest on my blazer, on my hat, on the title page of the school magazine, and on the weathervane above the boys’ changing room. Dragon School, Oxford

Myself age nearly twelve as Lady Macbeth, the peak of my acting career; the thick auburn plaits of my wig were all I had ever wanted. Dragon School, OxfordMyself age nearly twelve as Lady Macbeth, the peak of my acting career; the thick auburn plaits of my wig were all I had ever wanted. Dragon School, Oxford

Myself age nearly twelve as Lady Macbeth, the peak of my acting career; the thick auburn plaits of my wig were all I had ever wanted. Dragon School, Oxford

Frank as a don at Christ Church: He prided himself on his athleticism and is seen leading the pack round Christ Church Meadows. Frank as a don at Christ Church: He prided himself on his athleticism and is seen leading the pack round Christ Church Meadows.

Frank as a don at Christ Church: He prided himself on his athleticism and is seen leading the pack round Christ Church Meadows.

Family holiday in the west of Ireland, 1947 : Paddy, Thomas, Antonia, and Judith on a Skellig Island, with another one visible in the distance. Family holiday in the west of Ireland, 1947 : Paddy, Thomas, Antonia, and Judith on a Skellig Island, with another one visible in the distance.

Family holiday in the west of Ireland, 1947: Paddy, Thomas, Antonia, and Judith on a Skellig Island, with another one visible in the distance.

On the beach near Bude, Cornwall, in characteristic pose. On the beach near Bude, Cornwall, in characteristic pose.

On the beach near Bude, Cornwall, in characteristic pose.

At school, age fifteen: the bookworm. At school, age fifteen: the bookworm.

At school, age fifteen: the bookworm.

My “nice Catholic friends” at St. Mary’s Convent, Ascot, in 1948 : l to r: Lucy Pollen, Jennifer Seward, Buffy Rowell, Cynthia Hume, Antonia. My “nice Catholic friends” at St. Mary’s Convent, Ascot, in 1948 : l to r: Lucy Pollen, Jennifer Seward, Buffy Rowell, Cynthia Hume, Antonia.

My “nice Catholic friends” at St. Mary’s Convent, Ascot, in 1948: l to r: Lucy Pollen, Jennifer Seward, Buffy Rowell, Cynthia Hume, Antonia.

My sixteenth birthday, 27 August 1948 , which I spent as an “exchange” with a French family near Bordeaux. Ungratefully, I wrote in my album that the grapes in this picture were the only nice thing about the visit. My sixteenth birthday, 27 August 1948 , which I spent as an “exchange” with a French family near Bordeaux. Ungratefully, I wrote in my album that the grapes in this picture were the only nice thing about the visit.

My sixteenth birthday, 27 August 1948, which I spent as an “exchange” with a French family near Bordeaux. Ungratefully, I wrote in my album that the grapes in this picture were the only nice thing about the visit.

My parents’ political life: Frank among German civilians after he was made Minister in Charge of Germany in late 1946 . My parents’ political life: Frank among German civilians after he was made Minister in Charge of Germany in late 1946 .

My parents’ political life: Frank among German civilians after he was made Minister in Charge of Germany in late 1946.

The two portraits of my parents were those that I took to boarding school. The two portraits of my parents were those that I took to boarding school.

The two portraits of my parents were those that I took to boarding school.

My mother on the hustings, wearing a red hat to show her Socialist allegiance; Frank looks rather abstracted behind her. My mother on the hustings, wearing a red hat to show her Socialist allegiance; Frank looks rather abstracted behind her.

My mother on the hustings, wearing a red hat to show her Socialist allegiance; Frank looks rather abstracted behind her.

Pakenham Hall, Westmeath (now known as Tullynally, its original Irish name), photographed by Thomas. Thomas PakenhamPakenham Hall, Westmeath (now known as Tullynally, its original Irish name), photographed by Thomas. Thomas Pakenham

Pakenham Hall, Westmeath (now known as Tullynally, its original Irish name), photographed by Thomas. Thomas Pakenham

Great-Uncle Eddie, as the magnificent eccentric Irish writer Lord Dunsany was known to us. Dunsany EstateGreat-Uncle Eddie, as the magnificent eccentric Irish writer Lord Dunsany was known to us. Dunsany Estate

Great-Uncle Eddie, as the magnificent eccentric Irish writer Lord Dunsany was known to us. Dunsany Estate

A poem written to me by Great-Uncle Eddie with his characteristic quill pen; it was subsequently published in Punch to my great pride. A poem written to me by Great-Uncle Eddie with his characteristic quill pen; it was subsequently published in Punch to my great pride.

A poem written to me by Great-Uncle Eddie with his characteristic quill pen; it was subsequently published in Punch to my great pride.

Our uncle, Edward Longford, painted by Henry Lamb, his brother-in-law. Henry Lamb Estate

Christine Longford by Henry Lamb. Henry Lamb Estate

A visit to Bernard Berenson at I Tatti, arranged by Patrick Lindsay; l to r: Vanessa Jebb, B.B., Antonia; August 1950 . A visit to Bernard Berenson at I Tatti, arranged by Patrick Lindsay; l to r: Vanessa Jebb, B.B., Antonia; August 1950 .

A visit to Bernard Berenson at I Tatti, arranged by Patrick Lindsay; l to r: Vanessa Jebb, B.B., Antonia; August 1950.

Engagement photo taken by Thomas in the back garden of Cheyne Gardens, August 1956 . Thomas Pakenham Engagement photo taken by Thomas in the back garden of Cheyne Gardens, August 1956 . Thomas Pakenham

Engagement photo taken by Thomas in the back garden of Cheyne Gardens, August 1956. Thomas Pakenham

Wedding photograph, the gift of Cecil Beaton for whom I worked, taken outside our reception at the Fishmongers Hall, 25 September 1956 . My headdress, a childhood dream, was inspired by Mary Queen of Scots. Cecil Beaton Archive/Sotheby’s Wedding photograph, the gift of Cecil Beaton for whom I worked, taken outside our reception at the Fishmongers Hall, 25 September 1956 . My headdress, a childhood dream, was inspired by Mary Queen of Scots. Cecil Beaton Archive/Sotheby’s

Wedding photograph, the gift of Cecil Beaton for whom I worked, taken outside our reception at the Fishmongers Hall, 25 September 1956. My headdress, a childhood dream, was inspired by Mary Queen of Scots. Cecil Beaton Archive/Sotheby’s

George Weidenfeld, for whom I worked immediately after Oxford University. He then became (and remains sixty years later) my publisher: We are at a party to celebrate my book A History of Toys , 1966 .George Weidenfeld, for whom I worked immediately after Oxford University. He then became (and remains sixty years later) my publisher: We are at a party to celebrate my book A History of Toys , 1966 .

George Weidenfeld, for whom I worked immediately after Oxford University. He then became (and remains sixty years later) my publisher: We are at a party to celebrate my book A History of Toys, 1966.

The cover of the first Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition of Mary Queen of Scots , published in 1969. Weidenfeld & Nicolson The cover of the first Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition of Mary Queen of Scots , published in 1969. Weidenfeld & Nicolson

The cover of the first Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition of Mary Queen of Scots, published in 1969. Weidenfeld & Nicolson

DCF 1.0DCF 1.0

The monument to Mary Queen of Scots in Westminster Abbey erected by her son, King James I. I ended my biography of her with this powerful image. Roger Joy

The illustration from Our Island Story , which first drew me into the story of Mary Queen of Scots when I read it as a child. The illustration from Our Island Story , which first drew me into the story of Mary Queen of Scots when I read it as a child.

The illustration from Our Island Story, which first drew me into the story of Mary Queen of Scots when I read it as a child.