The sequel to Jennifer Worth’s New York Times bestselling memoir and the basis for the PBS series Call the Midwife
When twenty-two-year-old Jennifer Worth, from a comfortable middle-class upbringing, went to work as a midwife in the direst section of postwar London, she not only delivered hundreds of babies and touched many lives, she also became the neighborhood’s most vivid chronicler. Woven … neighborhood’s most vivid chronicler. Woven into the ongoing tales of her life in the East End are the true stories of the people Worth met who grew up in the dreaded workhouse, a Dickensian institution that limped on into the middle of the twentieth century.
Orphaned brother and sister Peggy and Frank lived in the workhouse until Frank got free and returned to rescue his sister. Bubbly Jane’s spirit was broken by the cruelty of the workhouse master until she found kindness and romance years later at Nonnatus House. Mr. Collett, a Boer War veteran, lost his family in the two world wars and died in the workhouse.
Though these are stories of unimaginable hardship, what shines through each is the resilience of the human spirit and the strength, courage, and humor of people determined to build a future for themselves against the odds. This is an enduring work of literary nonfiction, at once a warmhearted coming-of-age story and a startling look at people’s lives in the poorest section of postwar London.
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Loved the first book, about half of this one is a detailed history of workhouses and how they functioned, little content about actual patients. Don’t think I will read any others, first one far superior to this.
A wonderful glimpse of life in 30’s in London’s dock district. Amazing to think how quickly daily life has changed since then, and makes you appreciate modern conveniences and medicine. The stories revolve around the nuns and nurses of the fictional Nonnatus house, who provide midwife and medical services to the poverty-stricken residents of the neighborhood. Heartwarming stories abound.
I loved the PBS series and the books give more depth to the stories
Love the TV show and reading the book knowing it is a collection of her memories makes it all the more interesting.
Having loved the PBS/BBC series, I highly recommend the series of books. Many of the situations described in the Television version are gone in to in greater depth. Very well written.
This book is about the experiences and observations of a London slum 1950’s-1960’s midwife, a medically trained specialist in the delivery of children. Her characters inspire admiration for their having survived depressions, wars, epidemics, social upheavals, and a crushing class system.
The book gives in depth information on London after WWII and the impact of the workhouse on individuals and families. Very well done and informative.
Very good, sad, detailed description of life as child in a workhouse
Love reading this series. Such great characters and story lines. Very realistic.
I learned a lot about the time period from reading this book. Pre and post wars and the effects on it’s people is interesting to me.
As an emergency department nurse for many years I could relate to every story. I also prefer nonfiction and history over most othe genre of literature.
Loved the flow; enjoyed the characters and of course the story line!
Had difficulty getting chores completed
Sandy K
I wish it had some midwife stories. I enjoy the childbirth stories and this book had none.
I love the PBS series and the stories in this book were so much more intimate and personal. Love it!
Enjoyed the East End characters and the heartwarming as well as heart breaking tales of new life in a changing society full of perils. Lovely series… if you are a fan of the BBC/PBS show you must read this.
It wasn’t really that long ago that poverty was almost a crime.
Shadows of the Workhouses tells a very long story about the poor living in a section of London and the workhouses where many were confined. Each chapter tells another story. But it’s not a book one would want to read in one sitting because some of those stories hold too many facts to take in. Narration was excellent Recommend.
Shows a side of life steeped in poverty that we often don’t see or understand.
Gives more insight than the TV show. Love the characters.
I love these books and the BBC series. I have actually had the luck to speak to a nurse who was a midwife in the 50’s in east end London and she says the books are accurate. The books were an eye opener for me as I had no previous knowledge of workhouses or the conditions people had to endure.