Shadows of the Workhouse: The Drama of Life in Postwar London

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 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. ϡ쯦랠 In this follow up to CALL THE MIDWIFE, Jennifer Worth, a midwife working in the docklands area of East London in the 1950s tells more stories about the fascinating people she encountered. There's the story of Jane who cleaned and generally helped out at Nonnatus House - she was taken to the workhouse as a baby and was allegedly the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat. Peggy and Frank's parents both died within 6 months of each other and the children were left destitute. At the time, there was no other option for them but the workhouse. The Reverend Thornton-Appleby-Thorton, a missionary in Africa, comes to visit the Nonnatus nuns and Sister Julienne acts as matchmaker. And Sister Monica Joan, the eccentric ninety-year-old nun, is accused of shoplifting some small items from the local market. She is let off with a warning, but then Jennifer finds stolen jewels from Hatten Garden in the nun's room. The case is taken to court and Sister Monica Joan becomes a cause celebre. These stories give a fascinating insight into the lives of the poor in 1950s London, of the shadow of the workhouse that always hung over their lives but also of the resilience and spirit that enabled ordinary people to overcome their difficulties. The Call the midwife trilogy is comprised of Call the midwife (not included here, c2002), Shadows of the workhouse (this book, c2005), and Farewell to the East End (not included here, c2009). Together, this series chronicles Jennifer Worth's career as a midwife from start to finish, from her arrival in the war-scarred Docklands as a wide-eyed trainee, to the demolition of the tenements and subsequent closure of Nonnatus House. It provides a fascinating snapshot of social history, documenting the East End in the days when there was a real sense of community, when times were tough but there was plenty of good humour and neighbourly support to help the inhabitants through the harsh economic climate. The book also enables readers to follow Jennifer's personal story, as she discovers the amazing resilience of a population still bearing the scars of war, and the vibrant community of nuns with whom she lives and who teach her the skills of midwifery. In stories that are funny, disturbing and moving in equal measure, we meet prostitutes and abortionists, bigamists and mischievous nuns, and see Jennifer earn the confidence of people whose lives are often stranger than fiction A Fascinating Slice Of East End Life, From The No.1 Bestsellilng Author Of Call The Midwife, Soon To Be A Major Bbc Tv Series. In This Follow Up To Call The Midwife, Jennifer Worth, A Midwife Working In The Docklands Area Of East London In The 1950s Tells More Stories About The People She Encountered. There's Jane, Who Cleaned And Generally Helped Out At Nonnatus House - She Was Taken To The Workhouse As A Baby And Was Allegedly The Illegitimate Daughter Of An Aristocrat. Peggy And Frank's Parents Both Died Within 6 Months Of Each Other And The Children Were Left Destitute. At The Time, There Was No Other Option For Them But The Workhouse. The Reverend Thornton-appleby-thorton, A Missionary In Africa, Visits The Nonnatus Nuns And Sister Julienne Acts As Matchmaker. And Sister Monica Joan, The Eccentric Ninety-year-old Nun, Is Accused Of Shoplifting Some Small Items From The Local Market. She Is Let Off With A Warning, But Then Jennifer Finds Stolen Jewels From Hatton Garden In The Nun's Room. These Stories Give A Fascinating Insight Into The Resilience And Spirit That Enabled Ordinary People To Overcome Their Difficulties. A fascinating slice of social history, London's east end in the 1950s, from the author of Call the Midwife