Jennifer Worth recounts her experiences of midwifery and nursing in the East End during the 1950s. Her narrative is quite profound; her characters are brought to life through her thorough recollections and representation of the East End dialect. These are honest and insightful memoirs, and in no way does Worth hold back on the things that she witnessed, both heartwarming and disturbing. This boxset preserves not only Worth's memories, but those of the countless people she met and nursed during h...

The most shocking thing I discovered from reading this book, was the oppressive and dangerous minds of the doctors of the Victorian era: In order to secure their own income, 1 guinea per delivery if I remember correctly, they halted the development of midwifery almost completely until the beginning of the 20th century. By comparison, the city of Amsterdam employed a midwife by the mid 1600s, and the first school of midwifery in Denmark-Norway was established in Copenhagen in 1787. I read a study...

This series is a work in progress. I loved the first book. I got into nursing because I wanted to deliver babies. I haven't been able to do it, and may never, but it reminded me of what drove me into nursing. I loved the stories, the home births, all of it. I was particularly interested in Jenny's observations on the faith of the nuns, their dedication and commitment. A quote from the second book particularly struck me: "More than anything else a dying person needs to have someone with them. Thi...

As a social history alone of London's Docklands in the first half of the 20th century, this book is a superb piece of writing. The author has a fine eye and memory for detail, coupled with excellent research skills. As a series of narratives, it's utterly compelling. At times gut wrenching, at times humorous, the characters leap off the page and draw the reader into their story. What shines through even more is the deep love and appreciation the author felt for her colleagues and the compassion

Absolutely fantastic books!

These three books are not a light read. Having seen and loved the show "Call the Midwife," about nurse midwives and nuns (also midwives) delivering babies in the East End of London in the mid to late 1950s and very early sixties, I guess I was expecting more lighthearted fare. However, the first book in the series, "Call the Midwife," is remarkably like the show. It was as if the chapters translated directly into the screenplays, detail for detail. Jennifer Worth must have kept a diary for years...

I've only read the first book, Call The Midwife, but the box set is the only option coming up when I search.This book came highly recommended, and I'm glad I read it, not only for the childbirth stories, but also for the glimpse into the late 1800's/early 1900's in England. I had heard many times about workhouses in England through literature starting with Charles Dickens, however, until this book, I never understood what exactly they were and how they operated. So heartbreaking! I understood ho...

I loved all three of these books. The times, the setting, the characters and their stories. I grew up in the post WWII era also and just loved reading what it was like for these people. Not only did England have a baby boom just like other countries, they had it in the aftermath of the physical devastation of much of London and the outlying areas. I also liked that she went into the history of childbirth related health care and the care of the impoverished in England. Like many others, it was th...

Excellent writing -- really enjoyed this memoir and medical history of the bicycle riding nurse-midwives of London's East End in the 1950s. Worth provides fascinating details about early prenatal care along with delightful anecdotes about patients and their families living cheek to jowl in the tenements; the eccentricities of her fellow nurses; and Cockney characters in the neighborhood. The medical descriptions are graphic, so, fair warning if you're squeamish.

Jennifer Worth takes the reader on a tour of London's East End in the 1950's as seen through the eyes of a midwife. Worth recounts her early nursing career in the slums and tenaments of London, where thousands lived and somehow survived in squalor and poverty. What she does best as an author is show the reader how life looked at a time before birth control, slum reform and technology. Running water, electricity and sanitation were the exception and families of 12 or more were often stuffed into

Jennifer Lee arrives in the London’s East End in the early 1950’s, as a trainee midwife, she's assigned to work with the Anglican nuns at Nonnatus House. The nuns have been helping the poor people of Poplar for almost a hundred years, and Jennifer lives and works right alongside them. Jennifer witnessed the best and the worst of humanity and the area was notorious for petty crime, gangs, gambling and prostitution. The stories nurse Lee shares are a real mixture, some are uplifting and humorous a...

Another book from my mother's house. I read these before the birth of my son, in 2009, before the TV show based on these memoirs came to be. It's a fascinating look into the past, and really made me think that life as a working class woman in the 1950s was bloody hard work. Jennifer Worth writes with real love and affection for her profession and patients, and I alive the eclectic mix of women she meets throughout her journey. Some of the stories, especially those about the work houses, are diff...

This book is a true story. After finding the DVD series so well worth watching I tried the book which was written by Jennifer Worth who at twenty two became one of the practicing midwives in the East End and her character is portrayed in the early series. I found her story totally absorbing and full of fascinating detail, but in truth I think I preferred the DVD series. Having said this, I'm so glad I watched the DVDs first as it has been a most interesting experience to read the book while abl

I loved this book. I got it on a visit to the UK before it was discovered by TV. I think what enthralled me was the way was if I was sitting on the Estée with a cup of tea listening to my mother telling me about her life. Matter of fact just how it was. What shocked me is that it wasn't so very long ago! And having just driven through the East End as it prepared for the Olympics it really took on a whole new meaning. As I sit here using my I Pad I wonder about how far we have come and where are

I was engrossed in every one of these books, couldn't get enough of them. My one criticism is that there is one chapter the first in the series with a case of waaaay too much information. I would have liked to poke my eyes out, it was that bad. Ok, so we know that midwives had to work on all classes of people including women of the night. But what goes on in these "entertainment" halls is NOT what I want to know, just stick to the characters we need to know about, please! Why the smutty diversio...

I'd already seen some of the Call the Midwife episodes on TV and really enjoyed the series. I have to say this is one of those rare occasions when I actually enjoyed the TV programme more than the book it was based on. The book was interesting, but failed to move me as much as the programme did. It gives a good impression of life in the 1950's in the East End and of the midwifery training and knowledge of the time. But it didn't move me as much as I expected it to. Each story is quite short so I...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, both as an auto-biography of sorts and as an historic source. Worth's style of writing made it an easy read even though at times the subject matter was somewhat difficult to digest.I enjoyed the different characters that came up throughout the trilogy and the humour that they brought to the different scenarios in which they were placed.On the one hand, as a woman having been through labour and child-birth, this book gives you a new appreciation for all the medical...

I didn't want this one to end! Every chapter warmed my heart. :)

Have you ever wondered why the Baby Boom Generation has this name? I have.After WWII, people were expected to have as many children as they could so Europe would be reborn after the physical and human losses up to calamity levels. And who was going to help all those pregnant wives (either married or widowed), single mothers, abandoned lasses and plain lost souls (prostitutes) to deliver these babies? Why, the midwife, of course.Set in the mid-50s and early 60s, this box covers a numerous compill...

Great conclusion to the Call the Midwife series of books. I normally do not like series but this was different. Worth introduced the reader to new and interesting people throughout each of her three books. Some stories ended in a chapter and others continued on as she developed relationships with these people. I enjoyed seeing some of the stories "wrapped up" in this book, but am still left wondering more about Worth and her life. Who was the man that broke her heart and left her when she was yo...