It’s become a Sunday ritual, roast dinner, book talk and watching the latest call the midwife episode. Sunday night was the season 12 finale, which is surely far too many seasons, yet each episode is truly heartwarming. The show encapsulates the books perfectly with mothers, women and babies at the heart of the story. Each character is vividly and sensitively described, transporting you into the world of 1950s East End of London.
I’d read call the midwife years ago, so I vaguely remembered the origins of author Jennifer Worth, a young nurse and midwife wanting to improve her career in district nursing. Based on her privileged background, she was shocked and appalled by the poor living conditions of expectant mothers and debilitating patients in Poplar. Her comfort was lodging in Nonnatus House, the home of the inspiring nuns, providing the community with medical support underpinned with their Christian values. The trilogy could be read in any order since the books are ultimately about the range of individuals Jenny throughout her career during this time.
All of the books are written in an assorted way, ranging from personal memoir experiences, formal medical articles about prevalent diseases and short stories based on distinctive patients. This makes the reading experience unique, however I preferred the real life stories written in a fictional way. I’d recently read book three and my favourite story was when a fellow nurse and midwife Cynthia, supported a mother giving birth at home (typical of the 19th Century zeitgeist) when all of a sudden the chimney exploded and they were covered in soot! Worth described the humorous nature of the situation, all women being covered in black ash, despite their meticulously sterilised equipment and their natural reaction in which to hysterically laugh at the soot covered nun. This highlights the empowering nature of the books, female centred stories in a male dominated society.
Worth released her books in 2002 based on her experiences in the 1950s and the era has changed considerably. It was taboo at the time for men to be involved in “women things”, they weren’t even allowed at the birth of their own child! The trilogy spans across a range of socio-economic, political and cultural issues. She doesn’t shy away from the realities of poverty stricken London, vividly describing the dire conditions in overcrowded houses where families of eight shared one room and the life-threatening dangers associated with prostitution. Like the show, Worth shares the realities of such situations and leaves it to an individual to form their own opinions whether it be teenage pregnancy or the introduction of the pill. It’s not all doom and gloom as she shows the power in belonging to a community, the indescribable resilience involved in parenting and a gratitude of medical advances, including antibiotics. Such stories reminded me to appreciate living in London today and being forever grateful for the NHS!
I really loved the descriptions of her colleagues. Die-hard Call the Midwife fans will remember awkward, bumbling nurse Chummy (played by comedian and actor Miranda Hart) and my favourite sassy, stylish Nurse Trixie (still in the current series). It is riveting to know they were her real friends, real women helping other real women in their most vulnerable moments. Another funny story was when Nurse Trixie tended to a rather large mother giving birth on a ship, with hundreds of men onboard, she had to be moved to the captains cabin for more space and privacy! In spite of these memorable moments, the women were also faced with the difficult sides to pregnancy. They are often so graphic, I’d squirm at the page and feel my stomach tighten as she describes the doctor performing an emergency caesarean. However, ultimately the nurses’ friendship, warm-hearted nuns and Poplar community support in trying times made up for those tough chapters.
As a whole, the trilogy are worth a read for the wholesome stories, descriptions of the 1950s and empowering women. I didn’t read them all at once, literally years apart so I wouldn’t say they’re completely gripping but they are a comforting read. 4/5
Amber Reads something 