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Shadows of the Workhouse

Call the Midwife, Book 2

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Shadows of the Workhouse

By: Jennifer Worth
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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About this listen

 From the No. 1 bestselling author of Call the Midwife comes another fascinating slice of 1950s East End life, as seen through the eyes of the midwives and women who lived through it.


In the follow-up to her bestselling Call the Midwife, Jennifer Worth tells the true stories of the people she met as a midwife in the East End of London in the 1950s. There's Peggy and Frank, who were separated in the workhouse when their parents died - until Frank's strength and determination enabled him to make a home for them both. Jane was a bright, lively child, whose spirit was broken by cruelty, until she found kindness and love later in life. Then there is the matchmaking nun, Sister Julienne, and Sister Monica Joan, who ends up in the High Court . . .


Shadows of the Workhouse is a story of resilience and community, a celebration of those who lived, worked and dared to dream in one of London's poorest communities. Jennifer Worth enraptures with her trademark wit and humanity, providing a fascinating insight into a past world.©2008 Jennifer Worth Sociology Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking England
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This is the second of Jennifer Worth's books on which the BBC TV show, Call The Midwife is based. A true account about what life was like in the workhouses in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is at times both shocking and heartbreaking. It also gives you an insight into many of the colourful characters portrayed in the various episodes of the TV show.

Sequel to Call The Midwife

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This is a must read or listen to book for anyone who still refers to past times as 'The good old days'.
It is the most upsetting book I have listened to.
It really makes you think about our lives now and the luxury within which we live, even just having a hot meal every day and a clean bed to sleep in is pure luxury compared to the lives of a lot of people years ago.
It really is a must read/ listen to book to put your life into perspective.

Saddest book ever.

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Young people should read this book and appreciate how lucky they are to live in this day and age

Youth and old age

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Really enjoyed listening to this highly recommend it good companion to call the midwife serirse

Easy listening

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If you enjoyed the early series of call the midwife, you'll love this. it goes into incredible detail about the back stories of the characters that were visited during the 1950s.
beautifully narrated, and held my attention.
So very sad in parts. giving you an insight into how hard times were during the workhouse years. it's a great listen. Recommended.

FANTASTIC LISTEN!

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