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Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife, Book 1

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Call the Midwife

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

 In this extraordinary account of life as midwife in 1950s London, Jennifer Worth recounts her experiences - and those of the women she helped - in all their stark, colourful and at times shocking reality.

Life in London's East End in the 1950s was tough. The brothels of Cable Street, the Kray brothers and gang warfare, the meths drinkers in the bomb sites - this was the world that Jennifer Worth entered when she became a midwife at the age of twenty-two. Babies were born in slum conditions, often with no running water.

In Call the Midwife, Worth describes the romance and beauty of London as well as the bug-infested tenements, the spectre of disease, the sense of community and the incredible resilience of women who often bore more than ten children. Funny and moving, it brings to life a world that has now changed beyond measure.©2007 Jennifer Worth Medical Professionals & Academics Heartfelt Funny Emotionally Gripping Thought-Provoking Feel-Good Midwife
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I am a fan of the TV show but the actual book is much better

Magnificent

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I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I HAVE LEARNED QUITE A BIT FROM THESE MEMOIRS. MOST PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF THE WORKHOUSES BUT I NEVER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THEM. THE CABLE STREET CAFÉS ETC. VERY INFORMATIVE AND EXCELLENTLY READ BY JULIET STEVENSON. HER DIFFERENT ACCENTS AND VOICES MAKES LISTENING AND IMAGINATION SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING. BRILLIANT!!

AMAZING STORIES, EXCELLENT NARRATION.

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I’ve been a fan of the TV series for years and wanted to read the book which it was based on. The book did not disappoint. I loved how similar the first series was to the book and that there wasn’t much changed about the lead characters.
I found the book touched on the darker side of the times in East London. I found the chapter about Mary and the “all night cafes” quite shocking - reading that is not for the faint of heart. It is desperately sad that this book is based on real stories and experiences. As someone who loves to learn about history in books, I thought it is great. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the series, but also for anyone who’s never watched it.

Brilliant Read

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Juliet Stevenson is by far one of the best narrators I've come across! What a performance. She made this book for me. The story of Jenny's start and career as a midwife in the East End is very well written from the perspective of someone who quickly realized how fortunate she was to have been born in more privileged circumstances than those she ended up serving. Yet, as the book progressed you could hear how she warmed to these people and even came to love the nuns she lived and worked with while she was there.

Good stories of midwifery from a snapshot in time.

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I like a lot of people have seen the TV series and have enjoyed watching them but the book is even better as it delves into the characters in more depth and like the TV series has you shedding a tear or two. I have read the 3rd book but will now get the 2nd book when I get my next credit 5*

Cracking Book

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