Review of the 4 book memoir Call the Midwife

Shan and I are big fans of the BBC series “Call the Midwife.” I just finished reading the 4 volume memoir by Jennifer Worth upon which the series is based (4 books – Call the Midwife, Shadows of the Workhouse, Farewell to the East End, and Letters to the Midwife). The memoirs describe her activities as a nurse/midwife in the late 1950s in the East End of London which was the home of the working poor and the destitute. The focus is on the nurses/midwives and the Sisters (nuns) who were also trained nurses/midwives and their efforts to provide maternity and healthcare to the poor. Worth is one of the finest writers that I have ever read and her stories and descriptions of life literally take you into this community and the lives of the people in a very personal manner. The community is characterized by grinding poverty, inadequate housing, outbreaks of tuberculosis and diphtheria, workhouses for the poor, and the presence of large families (8 to 10 children were common). She discusses other issues that were a daily part of the community such as crime, prostitution, discrimination against immigrants, alcoholism, and abortion. She effectively shows the impact of the dramatic changes that were also taking place in the late 50s such as new vaccines, the “pill,” women’s rights, and the continued development of the National Healthcare system. Worth's memoir is a loving tribute not only to these very strong women (nuns and nurses) who tirelessly and faithfully served this community but also to the women who lived in this community. In the end, these memoirs are about social change, community, hope, and the human spirit. Highly recommended…