The Complete Call the Midwife Stories: True Stories of the East End in the 1950s

Jennifer Worth

Nov 2012 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

The East-End stories that inspired the BBC TV series, CALL THE MIDWIFE, in a gorgeous gift box.

London's East End in the 1950s was a tough place: the struggles of post-war life - bombsites, overcrowded tenements, crime, brothels - bred a culture of tight-knit family communities, larger-than-life characters and a lively social scene. It was into this world that Jennifer Worth entered as a trainee midwife. But docklands life was tough, and babies were often born in slum conditions.

In funny, disturbing and heartbreaking stories, Jennifer Worth recounts her time among nuns, prostitutes, abortionists, bigamists, gangsters and expectant mothers, portraying East Enders' amazing resilience - and their warmth and humour in the face of hardship. Written with affection and nostalgia, her midwife stories chronicle the lives, traditions and tales of a bygone era.

Ratings and reviews

Slightly disappointed in the fact I paid £8 for the complete call the midwife collection and only appear the have this one book. don't quite understand how this is a collection. Annoyed in the fact I have this book in hard back on my shelf. Feel cheated. Would be much obliged for a refund as the description isn't well explained and misleading.

The biggest problem with people these days is we don't appreciate what we have got, we worry about what we haven't got instead! Every person should read this book, I have read thousands and it's one of the best, I'll never forget this book, and thank you to nurses everywhere.

Fantastic book funny and entertaining, gripping and nail biting but also warm and inviting, wonderful book and very interesting too. Definitely worth a read :)

About the author

Jennifer Worth trained as a nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, and was later ward sister at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London, then the Marie Curie Hospital, also in London. Music had always been her passion, and in 1973 she left nursing in order to study music intensively, teaching piano and singing for about 25 years. Jennifer died in May 2011 after a short illness, leaving her husband Philip, two daughters and three grandchildren. Her books have all been bestsellers.