REVIEWED BY MAGGIE PERKOVIC 25TH JUNE 09
THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN THE SERIES. THE FIRST TWO BEING 'CALL THE MIDWIFE' AND 'SHADOWS OF THE WORKHOUSE'
THIS REALLY CONCLUDES THE WORKING LIFE OF JENNIFER WORTH IN THE EAST END OF LONDON WHERE SHE MEETS AND SEES TRUE DEPRIVATION AMONG THE WORKING CLASSES AND HOW, THANKS TO THE DEDICATION OF THE NUNS AT NONNATUS HOUSE AND THE TRAINEE MIDWIVES, THEIR BABIES LIVED AND SURVIVED.
WE MEET THE STRANGE TWINS KNOWN AS MEG 'N' MAVE WHO PRODUCED THEIR BABIES IN THE STRANGEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THE LADY ON A DUTCH BOAT WHO SEEMED TO BE HAVING A BABY, THE FATHER COULD BE ANY ONE OF THE CREW INCLUDING THE CAPTAIN AND THE OWNERS OF APUB WHOSE CHILDREN DIED ONE AFTER THE OTHER OF 'WASTING DISEASE' OR TUBERCULOSIS.
THE CHARACTERS ARE OFTEN THOSE FEATURED IN THE PREVIOUS BOOKS, BUT THROUGH IT ALL WE SEE THE DEDICATION AND DEVOTION OF THE MIDWIVES TO PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE BOTH DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING.
WHEN YOU REMEMBER THIS WAS A DESCRIPTION OF LIFE IN THE 1950'S WHEN LIFE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPROVING FOR THE POORER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IT IS INDEED A SOBER AND THOUGHT PROVOKING DOCUMENT
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